Obono-Obla warns APC against ‘pay-and-rig’ primaries ahead of 2027

By Jude Opara

A former Chairman of the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against imposing high nomination fees on aspirants while allegedly manipulating primary elections in favour of preferred candidates.
Speaking in a statement issued in Calabar, Obono-Obla warned that such practices could undermine internal democracy and discourage participation within the ruling party.
He criticised a system where aspirants are required to pay between N10 million and N50 million for nomination forms without assurances of a transparent and credible contest, stressing that political opportunities should not be determined by financial strength or influence within party leadership.
According to him, the credibility of the APC depends largely on its ability to conduct fair and transparent primaries that reflect the will of its members.
Obono-Obla also recounted his experience during the 2023 election cycle, alleging that he had to sell a property in Calabar to raise N22 million for a senatorial nomination form, only for the process to be skewed through the selection of loyal delegates.
He further claimed that during the primary election in Ikom, delegates were induced with cash payments ranging from N200,000 to N300,000 to influence the outcome in favour of certain aspirants.
Describing the situation as detrimental to party cohesion and public trust, he urged the APC to uphold fairness, equity, and due process in its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He maintained that allowing members to freely choose their candidates would not only strengthen the party but also ensure the emergence of credible representatives.