According to a video posted on the official YouTube channel of Arise News on Monday, May 18, 2026, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, criticized the conduct of political party primaries in Nigeria, describing the process as deeply flawed and poorly organized.
Speaking during an interview on the station, Amadi questioned the credibility of the ongoing primaries, especially within the ruling All Progressives Congress. He argued that the country’s political parties have failed to establish a transparent and verifiable membership structure before attempting to conduct direct primaries.
“There is nothing called a direct primary in this shambolic process. You don’t even know who is a member of the party,” he said.
Amadi explained that genuine direct primaries require an organized system where party members are properly registered, accredited, and allowed to vote through a clear process. According to him, the rushed nature of the primaries has created confusion, allegations of manipulation, and disputes in several states.
The political analyst also warned that a weak electoral process could affect the quality of leadership produced after the elections. He urged political leaders and institutions to focus on long-term electoral reforms capable of strengthening internal party democracy in Nigeria.