Political parties preparing for next year’s general election have kicked off post-primary reconciliation efforts in a bid to put their houses in order.

They are activating conflict-resolution mechanisms as they await the release of access codes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of candidates’ names.

For the presidential and National Assembly elections, parties are expected to begin accessing the codes from 9am on June 27.

According to INEC, the process will end by 6pm on July 11.

Until then, there is a window of opportunity for the selection of running-mates and the substitution of flag-bearers.

The conclusion of the primaries at the weekend marked the end of three major activities on the election timetable.

Fewer than four women presidential candidates will be on the ballot for the January 16, 2027 election.

They are Dr. Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Anita Zugwai-Chukwu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ada Fredrick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP), and Onuoha Juliet of the Youth Party (YP).

Although almost all 22 political parties met the INEC deadline for conducting their primaries either through consensus or direct voting, major opposition parties emerged from the process more divided.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secured the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for re-election in a hitch-free direct primary that observers adjudged credible nationwide.

Also at the weekend, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi secured the presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

However, the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which produced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its candidate, was rejected by two other aspirants – former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former banker and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen cried foul and shunned the collation of results.

A day after the primary, the ADC candidate, accompanied by other party leaders, visited Amaechi at his Abuja residence in a move aimed at reconciliation.

Yesterday, Atiku also visited Hayatu-Deen in Lagos as part of ongoing efforts to heal post-primary divisions.

In the APC, contests for senatorial and governorship tickets were bitterly fought in some states, leading to the exit of some aspirants, while others lodged complaints with party leaders through internal dispute-resolution channels.

Most of the grievances came from Delta, Bauchi, Gombe, Ekiti and Lagos states, where complaints centred largely on House of Assembly tickets.

Apart from the APC and ADC, other major parties are also grappling with crises arising from their presidential primaries.

While Atiku secured the ADC ticket in a primary monitored by INEC, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, is also laying claim to the ticket.

In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Sandy Onor emerged as the presidential candidate, but the Turaki group claimed to have endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its preferred candidate.

The former president has yet to respond to the group’s proposal.

Similarly, while the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party (LP) elected Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential flag bearer, the faction led by former National Chairman Julius Abure announced Kennedy Ahanotu as its candidate.

Last week, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said the party would not ignore grievances arising from the primaries and assured members that efforts would be made to reconcile those who felt aggrieved by the conduct of the exercises in some states.

Political parties are expected to collect access codes for the governorship and House of Assembly elections from INEC beginning at 9am on July 18.

The process will close at 6pm on August 8.

According to the guidelines, the commission will publish the list and particulars of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections on August 1.

The list of governorship and House of Assembly candidates will be published on August 29.

INEC stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and House of Assembly elections will commence on September 9.

The guidelines also provide that parties wishing to substitute or withdraw candidates must do so by August 22 for the presidential election and by September 19 for governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The commission is expected to publish the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates on September 12.

The final list of governorship and House of Assembly candidates will be published on October 10.

According to the guidelines, access codes will only be released to national chairmen and national secretaries of political parties.

However, in the event of a disagreement between a party chairman and secretary, the code will be released to the chairman only.

The Commission has already outlawed the manual submission of nomination forms and candidates’ particulars.

Candidates whose names are not uploaded to the portal before its closure will not be eligible to participate in the elections.

The Federal High Court judgment voiding part of INEC’s guidelines may, however, create challenges for the commission’s work plan unless the decision is overturned on appeal.

Atiku moves to reconcile with Hayatu-Deen

Atiku described his discussions with Hayatu-Deen as frank and productive.

In a post on his X handle, Atiku said both men agreed to work together despite disagreements arising from the presidential primary.

He wrote: “Earlier today, I visited my brother and fellow aspirant in the ADC presidential primaries, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, at his residence in Lagos.

“Our discussions on the state of our nation and party were frank and productive.

“We resolved to work together in the challenging task of reclaiming and rebuilding our beloved country for the greater good of our people.” (The Nation)

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