Alex Ter Adum, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Benue State, has criticized the recent change to Nigeria's electoral legislation which abolishes indirect primaries for candidate selection. He highlighted that this decision may exacerbate the influence of 'godfatherism', where powerful individuals manipulate the political process, especially in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission is currently engaged in preparations for these elections, and the reforms implemented may dramatically affect the political landscape.

In his exclusive comments to The PUNCH, Ter Adum, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress, addressed concerns that the removal of indirect primaries limits political parties to two extreme methods for candidate selection: direct primaries and consensus candidates. He pointed out that both methods have significant flaws, which could lead to further issues within the electoral system, ranging from exclusion of capable candidates to increased factionalism within parties.

The implications of this reform could be substantial for the future of Nigeria's democracy. As parties gear up for the elections, the potential increase in godfatherism and manipulation of the selection process raises fundamental questions about the integrity of electoral democracy in Nigeria. Without a balance between candidate selection methods, there's a genuine concern that the reform may undermine the democratic process rather than enhance it.