Three prominent politicians, former House of Representatives member Abdulrazak Namdas, Sani Shinkafi, and Ayo Arise have separately called for transparent and competitive primary elections, rejecting any form of candidate imposition within the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 polls.
The former spokesperson of the House of Representatives and Adamawa governorship aspirant, Namdas has submitted his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, stressing that candidate imposition will not succeed in the state.
Namdas, who also previously served as Chairman of the House Committee on Army, noted that President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri have all assured aspirants that there will be no imposition of candidates.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja after submitting his forms on Tuesday, he urged politicians to brace for open contests rather than depend on consensus arrangements.
He said, “There is no issue of imposition as far as I am concerned. The leaders of the party at the national level, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the national chairman of the party, and the governor, who is also a party leader at the state level, have assured us that there will be no imposition.
“I have no cause to fear. We are politicians and have presented ourselves before the public, which is why we were elected in the past. So, I can tell you that in Adamawa State, there will be no imposition.
“Leaders will give us the opportunity to contest. If we are called for consensus, that does not mean we will not participate in the process. If we agree among ourselves, fine. If we do not agree, we go for a contest.”
Namdas stated that his eight years of experience in the National Assembly have adequately equipped him for the responsibilities of governing, expressing confidence in his readiness to transition into the executive arm.
Meanwhile, a senatorial aspirant for Zamfara North Senatorial District of Zamfara State, Sani Shinkafi, has insisted that the direct primary mode of election must be adopted in the state.
Addressing journalists after submitting his nomination forms on Tuesday, Shinkafi argued that representatives from the three senatorial zones in Zamfara have delivered little in terms of effective legislation.
He further claimed that the senator for Zamfara North has failed to attract any meaningful federal government projects to the area, not even one.
According to him, “This is the time for change—a new beginning in the senatorial district. We are tired of political slavery, and it is time for us to break free from that political captivity.”
Responding to questions on his preferred primary mode, he stated that he would not accept a consensus arrangement or step down, emphasising his intention to exercise his rights as guaranteed by the Electoral Act.
He stated, “Therefore, we must go for direct primaries. Whoever wins carries the day. There are about eight of us contesting, and the current occupant has been there for 16 years. This is inequality, injustice, and clear marginalisation.
“We cannot continue like this. There must be a power shift among the local governments.”
Also, Senator Ayo Arise has declared his intention to return to the Senate to represent Ekiti North Senatorial District in 2027, citing a strong call from his constituents.
He said his previous tenure between 2007 and 2011 delivered key achievements, including the establishment and expansion of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, which has boosted education, commerce, and development across the district.
Arise also stressed the need for an open and transparent primary process, rejecting any form of candidate imposition.
He maintained that his experience makes him well-positioned to represent the district effectively, while pledging to promote growth, improve infrastructure, and ensure his constituents benefit more from national opportunities.
The APC began the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28, with the exercise expected to close by midnight of May 6.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
It also stated that party primaries and the resolution of related disputes will take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
INEC further announced that campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for Governorship and State Assembly elections are slated to start on September 9, 2026.
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