President Bola Tinubu has directed his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, to supervise the All Progressives Congress primaries for National Assembly seats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The directive covers APC primaries for Senate and House of Representatives aspirants across the country.
According to Vanguard, the decision followed consultations with members of the National Assembly, who had reportedly demanded that the party ensure internal democracy in the selection of its candidates.
Gbajabiamila and Masari are expected to work with APC governors, the party’s National Working Committee, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the exercise.
Their role will focus on political coordination, monitoring compliance with due process, managing emerging disputes and reporting developments to the President.
The APC National Secretariat will, however, retain its constitutional and statutory responsibility for organising the primaries.
This means the party’s National Working Committee will continue to handle formal notices, screening of aspirants, deployment of primary election panels, conduct of the exercise and collation of results in line with the Electoral Act and APC guidelines.
The arrangement is seen as an attempt by the Presidency to reduce tension within the ruling party and address concerns over imposition, factional disputes and complaints that could arise from the nomination process.
The report said some politicians had urged Tinubu to expand the supervisory team to include more party figures.
The President was said to have resisted the pressure in order not to undermine the lawful role of the party leadership in conducting the primaries.
The development comes as political parties begin early positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, with National Assembly seats expected to draw intense contests across states.
APC leaders are expected to manage the process carefully to avoid disputes that could weaken the party before the general elections.
