Iko-Sami: APC Conducted the Most Successful Direct Primaries Yet, Protests After Primaries Are Signs Of Democracy

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Sule Iko-Sami, has defended the outcome of the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, describing protests and complaints by aggrieved members as a normal feature of democratic politics. He argued that many of those behind the agitations were candidates and supporters dissatisfied with the results, while maintaining that the APC successfully conducted its direct primary process and produced candidates capable of winning at the polls.

He said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday.

“It’s okay for people to actually raise questions and concerns when a party is done with primaries, especially a very important party like APC. But the candid truth is that often times, candidates that actually lose out in primaries or actually are disadvantaged in the course of the project, you tend to see them organizing people, coming to the national media, make a lot of false statements, or going to several communities to organize people for riot and all that.

“When you see demonstration in polity like this, it’s actually democracy in action because this is the only party, for the first time, that has been able to launch a direct primaries which was actually approved by our constitution in our National Assembly.

“So these are happening because people that might have lost out will actually organize such agitation. But all I can tell you is that for the first time, we have had a successful direct primaries. Majority of the candidates that actually emerge are ones that we know will win election. And by God’s grace, Mr. President and our governors are also returning,” he assured.

Responding to criticism from Peter Obi over the quality of leadership in the country, Iko-Sami argued that assessments of the government’s performance should be based on measurable outcomes, which he highlighted, rather than political rhetoric.

“I can tell you, look at the data, look at the indices, look at where we were in 2023 and where we are now. And if you look at someone that has turned out a beautiful policy like removing the fuel subsidy; this is the first time, I’m from Northern Nigeria, sir. This is the first time there’s a policy of loan financing for a student that is coming from parents that are not be able, that cannot afford to take their child to university. That’s a loan scheme that offers you money and upkeep in school.

“This is the first time that we have actually seen so much resources in our state, going to our state, and actually bringing development down to our grassroots. This is the first time we have full autonomy of our local government, and this president is actually pushing for that. Our securities, of course security is in progress. Look at the statistics in 2023 and where we are right now. So that’s why I can tell you, and when you mention about sanity, a leader that has been able to succeed in a state like Lagos, that has turned out policy that is actually receiving commendation all around the world,” he said.

Challenging opposition parties to move beyond criticism, Iko-Sami argued that their role in a democracy should be to offer alternative policies and solutions to the country’s challenges. He criticised what he described as a tendency to focus on condemning government actions without presenting viable options, insisting that constructive engagement and policy-based debates would better serve Nigeria’s democratic development and national stability.

“My challenge is still throwing to the oppositions: bring one alternative to every policy of government and challenge the government on it, and offer alternative. That’s what opposition should do. It’s not happening. You only come out and just throw away statement asking this one should resign, that is not it. We want a Nigeria. If we don’t have a country first, we will not be able to have stability. So we should approach it to have a country first, a stable country, a peaceful country, and a governance so that we can be all proud of.”

On concerns over internal party democracy, Iko-Sami maintained that disagreements and disputes were inevitable given the scale of the APC and the introduction of direct primaries alongside consensus arrangements.

“This is the first time we are running a direct primaries and consensus. And definitely, whenever there’s a direct primaries and consensus, people will challenge it. This is a party that sits down with virtually all the aspirants that ran for office, and they are discussing with them. There are consensus, there are negotiations, and this is about party—this is internal party issues. Some issues will be sorted out before the final replacements.

“Remember, this is a ruling party, so it’s the most popular party already. Virtually all Nigerians are in this party, and this is the party that is actually the governing party. So it’s normal for people to keep on raising criticism,” he maintained.

Addressing claims that former PDP senator Adamu Aliero may have been promised an automatic ticket before joining the APC, Iko-Sami dismissed suggestions of any pre-primary arrangement or political betrayal within the party.

“There was no arrangement. I have to know that. My governor came out openly and said, ‘When you emerge, you have to be electable by your people.’ And if it is through consensus, majority of the stakeholders will have to consider you electable. That was done. So the fact is that he came to APC with thinking he was going to be given automatic ticket. I don’t know of any of that,” he stressed.

On allegations of a shrinking democratic space and claims of political persecution against opposition parties, Iko-Sami rejected suggestions that the APC or the federal government was responsible for the internal crises facing rival parties.

He argued that many of the legal disputes confronting opposition platforms stemmed from organisational and leadership issues within the parties themselves rather than external interference.

“It’s actually funny because I want you to take example of like two or three of the opposition parties that were formed. They ran. ADC started as an opposition party. 90% of their members came from APC. When they came for their ADC, what were the processes they followed in actually forming the leadership of their party? And when those are brought to question, you are likely going to face a lot of legal issues.

“Let’s go to Labour Party. They came newly also and they decided to take a logo of an organization. That organization took them to court. It’s not APC’s fault that they took a logo of an organization that was also seeking to be a party or otherwise and took them to court. It’s also not the fault of APC that ADC has not taken time to actually clean the entire space within the states and national in forming their structures. These are the legal challenges these two parties are having, and it’s common in most of the parties. So you can’t point every direction of your internal problems of your party, from formation to leadership to logo and all that, and direct it to the ruling party,” he said.

Commenting on the plight of Nigerians in South Africa amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and evacuation efforts, Iko-Sami described the situation as unfortunate and called for stronger government intervention to protect affected citizens.

“It’s actually very unfortunate. And we believe in compensation. People leave businesses and their livelihood, some have families and their children all over there, but they have been killed, they have been attacked, their businesses have been attacked. So it’s important for government to actually pursue active repatriation, it’s important to pursue cases whereby people should be compensated, they should be compensated.

“And in Nigeria, they should also be able to be strict in economic policy compliance of every foreign country that is actually doing business in Nigeria, just like MTN and many other businesses South Africa is actually doing in Nigeria,” he urged.

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