Samson Itodo calls consensus 'organized theft'

Samson Itodo, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, said on May 16 that the way Nigerian parties use consensus candidacies amounts to “organized theft” that suppresses political aspirations and narrows internal competition. Itodo made the remarks in an interview aired by ARISE News, where he argued that the issue was not the idea of consensus itself but how parties apply it in practice. His comments came as parties prepare for the 2027 election cycle under Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026, which reshaped the rules for candidate nomination. ARISE News and other Nigerian outlets published excerpts of the interview over the weekend. ### What exactly did Itodo say about consensus candidacies? “It’s what I call organized theft,” Itodo said in the ARISE News interview, referring to the build-up to party primaries. He said the process, as often implemented, suppresses the political aspirations of aspirants and concentrates power in the hands of a few party actors. (arise.tv) ARISE News quoted Itodo as saying the practice “undermin[es] internal democracy within parties” because “a few now determine who will be the candidate of a political party.” He added that such arrangements can hand party members and voters a fait accompli rather than a competitive process. ### Was Itodo rejecting consensus outright? (arise.tv) Itodo said consensus as a concept is not automatically illegitimate. In the ARISE interview, he said, “The problem isn’t consensus,” adding that the central issue is implementation. He said there are circumstances in which consensus can be acceptable if party members and aspirants genuinely endorse it. (arise.tv) The distinction matters because Itodo’s criticism was aimed at what he described as elite imposition rather than voluntary agreement. In his recent opinion essay, he wrote that consensus candidacy has become a tool to eliminate competition and sideline aspirants who lack the backing of party power brokers. (dailypost.ng) ### What does Nigeria’s current electoral law say about nomination methods? Samson Itodo wrote in his May 13 opinion essay that before the 2022 Electoral Act, Nigeria recognized direct and indirect primaries as the two modes of candidate nomination. He said the 2026 Electoral Act retained direct primaries and consensus candidacy as the two legally approved methods, removing indirect primaries from the new framework. (premiumtimesng.com) The same essay said a valid consensus arrangement must meet three conditions: only cleared aspirants can participate, those stepping aside must do so voluntarily and endorse the remaining aspirant, and the choice must be ratified at a special convention or nomination congress. Itodo wrote that if one aspirant refuses to withdraw, the party must conduct a direct primary. (premiumtimesng.com) ### Why is this becoming an issue now? The 2027 election cycle is already shaping internal party contests, and Nigerian outlets have reported disputes over preferred candidates and the use of consensus in some parties. Daily Post reported on May 16 that some aspirants said they were not carried along when parties announced preferred candidates and insisted on primaries instead. (premiumtimesng.com) INEC said in a recent statement that it has begun a technical review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties to align them with the Electoral Act 2026. The commission said the review is intended to address issues including candidate nomination processes, compliance obligations and dispute prevention ahead of 2027. (dailypost.ng) ### What are election officials doing next? INEC said its technical workshop will bring together national commissioners, directors, legal experts and election administrators for a clause-by-clause review of the existing 2022 party framework. The commission said the process will produce clearer compliance mechanisms and operational guidance for monitoring party activities nationwide. (inecnigeria.org) The next milestones are likely to come from INEC’s revised party regulations and from party primaries as the 2027 timetable advances. Itodo’s comments place added attention on how parties document withdrawals, endorsements and ratification if they choose consensus under the new law. (premiumtimesng.com) (inecnigeria.org)