Presidential Election Primaries: The Path to Nomination
The road to the presidential election is defined by the primary processes of the nation's leading political parties. These primaries determine which candidates will lead their respective tickets and who will serve as their running mates. In the lead-up to the general election, four major parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the People's Democratic Party (PDP)—underwent rigorous selection processes to finalize their candidates.
A recurring theme during these nominations was the debate over zoning, a political practice where party nominations are rotated between different geographical regions to ensure balanced representation. Despite calls from groups like the Southern Governors' Forum to move the nomination to the South—given that the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, was a Northerner serving his second term—several parties proceeded without formal zoning agreements.
Key Facts
- APC: Nominated Bola Tinubu as presidential candidate and Kashim Shettima as vice presidential candidate.
- LP: Nominated Peter Obi as presidential candidate and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as vice presidential candidate.
- NNPP: Nominated Rabiu Kwankwaso as presidential candidate and Isaac Idahosa as vice presidential candidate.
- PDP: Nominated Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate and Ifeanyi Okowa as vice presidential candidate.
- Zoning: Both the APC and PDP lacked formal zoning agreements despite pressure from Southern political interest groups.
All Progressives Congress (APC) Nominations
Because President Muhammadu Buhari had already served two terms, he was ineligible for renomination. On June 8, 2022, the APC held an indirect presidential primary in Abuja, resulting in the nomination of Bola Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State.
The selection of the vice presidential candidate involved a placeholder process. In mid-June, the party submitted Kabir Ibrahim Masari of Katsina State as a temporary nominee. Following Masari's formal withdrawal on July 10, Tinubu announced Kashim Shettima, a Senator for Borno Central and former Governor of Borno State, as his official running mate.
Labour Party (LP) Nominations
The Labour Party's trajectory shifted significantly when former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, joined the party from the PDP. On May 30, 2022, the party held its presidential primary in Asaba, where Obi was nominated unopposed.
Similar to the APC, the LP used a placeholder for the vice presidency. Doyin Okupe, a physician and Director-General of the Obi Campaign Organisation, was submitted as a nominee on June 17. After Okupe withdrew on July 7, Obi announced Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a former Senator for Kaduna North, as his replacement on July 8.
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Nominations
The New Nigeria Peoples Party held its convention and presidential primary on June 8, 2022. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano State, ran as the sole candidate and was subsequently nominated for the 2023 general election.
On July 14, 2022, Kwankwaso finalized his ticket by selecting Isaac Idahosa, the Bishop of God First Ministry (also known as Illumination Assembly), as his vice presidential candidate.
People's Democratic Party (PDP) Nominations
The PDP's process was shaped by the decision of Chairman Iyorchia Ayu in October 2021 to utilize an indirect primary method rather than a direct or consensus-based approach. Despite pressure from the Southern Governors' Forum to zone the ticket to the South, the party held its indirect primary on May 28, 2022, in Abuja.
The party nominated Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President and the party's 2019 nominee. On June 16, Abubakar selected Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, to serve as his running mate.
Summary of Presidential Tickets
| Political Party | Presidential Nominee | Vice Presidential Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| All Progressives Congress (APC) | Bola Tinubu | Kashim Shettima |
| Labour Party (LP) | Peter Obi | Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed |
| New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) | Rabiu Kwankwaso | Isaac Idahosa |
| People's Democratic Party (PDP) | Atiku Abubakar | Ifeanyi Okowa |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was President Muhammadu Buhari not nominated by the APC?
President Buhari was ineligible for renomination because he had already been elected to the office of president twice.
What is a placeholder nominee in the context of these primaries?
A placeholder nominee is a person submitted to the electoral body to fill a required slot temporarily, with the intention that they will be substituted by the final chosen candidate at a later date.
Did the APC and PDP follow zoning agreements?
No, neither the APC nor the PDP had formal zoning agreements for their nominations, despite calls from politicians and the Southern Governors' Forum to zone the tickets to the South.
Who was the unopposed candidate in the Labour Party primary?
Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, was nominated unopposed during the Labour Party's presidential primary in Asaba.
How did the PDP select its presidential candidate?
The PDP used an indirect primary method, as backed by Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, to nominate Atiku Abubakar on May 28, 2022.
