In Nigerian politics, primaries have long been theatrical productions where the script is often written backstage. But the events surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State on May 18, 2026, push the boundaries of even our famously elastic democratic norms.

Hon. Lawrence Ngozi Okolie, the sitting member representing the constituency, arrived at the designated venue expecting to exercise his right as an aspirant and incumbent. According to his account, all aspirants were instructed to be present by 12 noon. He got there before that time, only to be informed that the elections had already been concluded. A winner had been declared: Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the former House Minority Leader whom Okolie had defeated in 2023 while running under the Labour Party banner.

This is not mere procedural hiccup. It is an allegation of orchestrated exclusion — wrong timing, possibly shifted location, limited awareness for supporters, and a swift declaration that left the incumbent unable to even cast a vote in his own re-nomination contest.

In Okolie’s words, captured in widely circulated videos: the process denied him and his supporters a fair ground. “If you want to defeat someone, do it in their face,” he essentially challenged.

APC officials and Elumelu’s camp maintain the process was conducted according to guidelines, with voting restricted to accredited delegates. They have called for sportsmanship and party unity. Yet the optics — an incumbent showing up to a “concluded” election — fuel legitimate questions about transparency, adherence to the party’s own timetable, and INEC guidelines on primaries.

Broader Implications for APC and Nigerian Politics

This episode raises uncomfortable questions that go beyond one constituency:

– Can a party that preaches internal democracy afford such glaring procedural lapses? If aspirants cannot reliably know the time and venue, or if elections are effectively pre-determined before all players arrive, what remains of the “primary” process? It becomes coronation, not contest.

– INEC and party recognition. For the APC national leadership and the electoral umpire, the real test is whether this result will stand unchallenged.

Legal precedents exist on flawed primaries. If credible evidence of exclusion surfaces — mismatched official notices, delegate accreditation issues, or verifiable suppression of turnout — the party risks internal litigation and public erosion of trust.

Supporters of Okolie, who may not have been properly mobilized due to alleged shifts, had their electoral rights curtailed.

Politics is often described as a contact sport, but it should not be ambush warfare. Defeating an opponent through superior organization, mobilization, and genuine delegate support is legitimate — even commendable.

But doing so by allegedly changing the rules mid-game, or ensuring key players miss the kickoff, breeds cynicism and factionalism.

The APC in Delta State, like other parties, faces 2027 with serious stakes. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s influence, zoning calculations, and the broader national picture matter. But short-term tactical victories secured through questionable means often plant seeds of long-term division.

True party interest lies in processes that produce credible candidates who can win general elections, not just internal nods.

Hon. Okolie deserves a fair hearing. If the primary was indeed flawed in timing, notification, or access, the APC as a national body should consider remedies — whether through review, re-run in disputed segments, or at minimum, transparent investigation.

Nigerian voters are watching. They have grown weary of “selection” masquerading as election.

In the end, democracy — even party democracy — thrives on fairness, not fait accompli.

If the APC wants to project seriousness and good intentions, it must address this Delta shadow primary squarely.

Anything less validates the growing suspicion that for some, victory is not won at the polls but engineered in the shadow primaries like this one conducted against the incumbent contender Hon. Ngozi Lawrence Okolie.

And that serves neither the party nor Nigeria’s democratic experiment.

By Pamela O.
Political Analyst and Political Columnist.