OPINION: Direct Primaries: The Ultimate Cure for Monetized Politics in Nigeria

By Fenny Fwa

Indirect primaries—also known as delegate elections—are heavily skewed against the less privileged. In most cases, we end up with the least qualified candidates because only those with deep pockets can afford to win, to the detriment of the most capable individuals who are hindered by a lack of resources.

Given that the direct primary system can be manipulated by presiding officers during vote counting, and that large crowds queuing behind their preferred aspirant are prone to violence, I propose a modified open ballot system as a practical solution.

Since we already have the list of registered voters, all voters should first be accredited. Thereafter, they would queue in two separate lines—one for men and one for women. The presiding officer would then issue each accredited voter a ballot paper to cast their vote for the aspirant of their choice.

This approach represents the surest path to credible primaries. Of course, no system is perfect, and unscrupulous elements may still exploit loopholes to manipulate the process. However, the modified direct primary system outlined above is arguably the best available option.

The most likely way to rig this method would be through the dishonesty of aspirants’ agents. If an agent is easily bought or compromised, they could be induced to undermine the process.

Aspirants are therefore strongly enjoined to deploy credible, highly educated, and honest agents. This single step would go a long way toward ensuring the process remains free and fair.