The ongoing legal challenge by former Senator Ayo Arise, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2011, over the conduct of the 2026 APC senatorial primary has once again brought the issue of due process within political parties into sharp focus. While the courts will determine the merits of his case, the broader principle at stake goes beyond any individual or political ambition. It concerns the integrity of internal party democracy and the need for every member to have confidence in the party’s processes.
This is not a new position for me.
On October 9, 2018, The Nation newspaper published my concerns under the headline, “Aspirant Condemns APC Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I Primaries.” Following the APC House of Assembly primary in Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I, I publicly expressed concern over what I described as serious irregularities. These included allegations that some individuals voted without proper accreditation, certain voters were counted multiple times, and the process lacked transparency. I also noted that the screening outcome had not been released before the primary, while the rescheduled election date was communicated only on the morning of the exercise, creating unnecessary confusion for aspirants and their supporters.
At the time, I acknowledged that the party leadership may have intended to strengthen participation through open primaries. However, I maintained that good intentions alone were not enough. Electoral processes must be properly planned, transparently conducted, and faithfully implemented in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines.
Importantly, I urged aggrieved party members to pursue their grievances with maturity while calling on party leaders to ensure future primaries were better organised, properly monitored, and conducted with fairness and equity. I expressed confidence that our party would remain formidable only if it upheld justice and due process in both decision-making and implementation.
My position then remains my position today.
Political parties are the foundation of representative democracy. When democratic principles are weakened within a political party, public confidence in the broader electoral system is inevitably affected. Every aspirant, regardless of status or influence, deserves a level playing field governed by fairness, transparency, and respect for established rules.
The concerns now being raised by Senator Ayo Arise following the APC Ekiti North Senatorial District primary reflect this same enduring principle. Whether one agrees with his claims or not, every party member has the right to expect that internal elections will be conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and that disputes will be resolved through lawful and transparent mechanisms.
Respect for due process is not a privilege reserved for a few. It is an obligation owed to every member of the party. It safeguards institutional credibility, strengthens party unity, and reinforces public trust in democratic governance.
As members of a progressive political family, we must continue to advocate reforms that deepen transparency, accountability, and internal democracy. Strong institutions, not individual interests remain the enduring pillars of every successful political party.
The lesson is simple: democracy begins within our political parties. When due process is respected, justice is strengthened, confidence is restored, and the party emerges stronger. That was the principle I defended in 2018, and it remains the principle worth defending today.
APC Chieftain and Former Lagos State House of Assembly Aspirant, Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I.
