Members of the African Democratic Congress in Borno State have rejected what they call a plan to impose candidates through consensus, insisting instead on free and fair primary elections.
The party members, who made their position clear in recent days, say the consensus arrangement bypasses the democratic process that should guide candidate selection. They want every aspirant to have an equal chance to contest for party tickets across all elective positions.
The protesters argue that consensus candidates weaken the party's chances of winning elections because they do not reflect the true choice of party members. They say candidates chosen through open primaries would have stronger grassroots support and legitimacy within the party structure.
Party sources say the move comes ahead of the 2025 elections, when the ADC hopes to make significant gains in Borno. The state has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles, with voters showing willingness to consider alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Borno ADC leadership has not yet responded publicly to the members' demands. Party officials are expected to address the matter at a state executive committee meeting scheduled for next month.
Meanwhile, other political parties in the state have faced similar pressures from members demanding transparent candidate selection processes. The issue reflects a broader conversation across Nigeria about internal democracy within political parties.
The ADC members plan to present a formal petition to the state party chairman outlining their grievances and proposing a timeline for primary elections. They say they will mobilise support from other local government chapters to ensure the leadership takes their demands seriously.
