Restricted Direct Primaries, Absence of Internal Party Democracy and the Bastardisation of Democratic Ethos: A Case Study of the 2023 Kogi State All Progressives Congress Gubernatorial Primary Election

Abstract

This paper examined and explained what is meant by direct primaries particularly in Nigeria’s fourth republic. This paper then delved into the meaning and application of restricted direct primaries as well as an absence of internal party democracy, including the contending issues and the many-sidedness of the nebulous concept, as it relates to the conduct of the 2023 Kogi State governorship primaries. In what ways has it aided or undermined the democratic process with regards to indirect primaries as contained in the Electoral Acts 2022, Section 84 (5-8) which states very clearly the modalities to be adopted in conducting direct primaries in elections in Nigeria and anything short of the laid down processes means that no election has taken place at all. We went on to examine the concept of restricted direct primaries. In this paper, a descriptive analytical model was deployed using secondary data collection methodology. The theoretical framework used was the conflict theory of corruption, a political economy mode using class analysis, exposing who gets, what, when and how? Particularly, how stomach infrastructure and financial inducement have taking over Nigeria’s political firmament. After which conclusion was drawn and recommendations proffered, such as the fact that our laws should not just be meant for decoration, they must be truly applied, to enable us to have an enduring democratic ethos and governance system. Secondly, if our extant laws are not tested in courts of competent jurisdictions, it will be difficult to appreciate the efficacy and applicability of such laws. Moreover, nobody in the political parties should be too powerful to take unilateral illegal actions that no party member can, take exception to and challenge legally and no single individual can be too powerful to foist an illegality on the generality of the people and at least somebody should have the conviction and boldness to seek legal redress about this anomaly.