Wat next for aspirants wey lose primaries and dose wey dem no clear ahead of 2027 general elections

Political primaries for di 2027 general elections dey go on for different parties so dem go fit pick candidate for di elections.

But wetin go happun to aspirants wey no participate for di primaries, dose wey di parties no clear and dose wey lose wey no gree wit di primary election results.

According to di 2027 election timetable wey Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) bin release, di window for parties to hold dia primary election na between 23 April and 30 May, 2026.

Dis one mean say all political parties must to do and conclude all activities to pick dia candidates across different level by di end of 30 May, 2026.

E include state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and presidential.

However, tension and pressure for some political parties wey don begin dia political primaries dey cause emotions up and down.

For instance, di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dey release list of candidates wey no dey cleared to participate for dia primaries but dem no dey put di reason.

Plenti of dose wey no dey cleared dey vex and dey question why dia party no go clear dem to contest for di primaries.

E dey expected say dat kain scenario fit happun for different parties as we dey head towards deadline for primaries.

Now, for dose wey dey vex say dem no allow dem contest for di primaries, and dose wey dey vex say dem lose - wetin be di next tin for dem to do?

Wat next for losers of election primaries?

For di losers of di election primaries for dia parties, na just three options dey available to dem.

Di first and painful one na to accept fate and abide by di results of di primary elections.

Di second na to file petition against di results, say dem no gree wit di outcome.

And di last and final option na to decamp run go anoda party to contest.

But all of dis options get limit to how dem fit do am and wen dem fit do am.

1. Accept results

Make I yarn you say according to party rules and regulations, e dey expected say evri registered members must to obey and abide by di outcome of di party electoral activities - including supporting party candidates.

So, e easy for aspirants wey lose to accept di party decision for who win di election.

2. Petition di results

Section 84 of di Electoral Act 2026 give parties di right to conduct primaries so dem go fit 'democratically nominate candidates for di election'.

Now, afta political primaries, if aspirant no gree, dem fit write petition and drag di mata to wia dem go get fair-hearing.

Dis na why political parties dey also set up election appeal and petition committee wey go look into electoral disputes wey happun for di primaries.

Meanwhile, di window to settle evri election primary disputes na still 30 May 2026 - so anytin afta dat time no fit hold.

For APC, di election appeal and petition na between 18 May to 25 May, 2026. Under dis period anyone wey no gree fit appeal within di party.

Anytin wey go happun dey di hand of di primary election appeal and petition committee of various political parties. Di outcome go decide wetin di aspirants go do next.

3. Defect go anoda party

Bifor, aspirants wey no gree wit wetin happun for dia party fit quickly run go join anoda party to contest.

But di 2026 Electoral Act get clause wey fit make am impossible for defection to anoda party during or afta primaries.

Make I first make am clear to you say, under di 2022 Electoral Act, political parties gatz submit dia membership register to Inec about 30 days bifor dia primaries.

E mean say na only party members get di right to vote and be voted for during party primaries.

Now, under section 77 of di Electoral Act 2026, dem don reduce di timeline to 21 days bifor primaries for parties to submit dia party register.

Na dat register Inec go work wit, and parties no fit get alternative register and any party wey no submit dia register within di timeline, dat party no go fit produce any candidate for di election.

So, any aspirant wey try to defect go anoda party to contest gatz make sure say dia name dey di party register of wia dem dey run go - if not, na waste of time and resources, according to di Electoral Act 2026.

Di Electoral Act 2026 say "only members wey dia name dey for di register go dey

eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses and conventions".

"Political party no fit use any anoda register for party primaries, congresses and conventions except di register submitted to di Commission."

So if aspirant run go anoda party, as far say dia name no dey di party register wey dem submit give Inec, e mean say dem no go fit vote or be voted for for any primaries.