The Citizens in Politics Assembly (CIPA) has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the conclusion of its Federal House of Representatives primaries while calling for swift investigation into reported irregularities ahead of the party’s upcoming senatorial and presidential primaries.
In a statement co-signed by National Coordinator Mrs. Abigail Olagbaye and Director of Media and Publicity Mr. Ayodele Abere, the civic and political support organisation commended states and constituencies where the exercise was conducted peacefully, transparently, and in an orderly manner.
CIPA said it aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for a free, fair, peaceful, and democratic internal electoral process that reflects the will of APC members and protects the party’s integrity. The group welcomed the President’s directive that the primaries should be conducted without manipulation, imposition, or electoral malpractice.
The organisation also praised party officials, returning officers, supervisory committees, and members in areas where the primaries ran smoothly, stating that their conduct “is a credit to our party and to Nigerian democracy.”
However, CIPA expressed concern over credible reports of delegate manipulation, violence, intimidation, and result falsification in some states and constituencies. It described the practices as contrary to the APC’s founding values, inconsistent with Tinubu’s directive, and damaging to public confidence in the party’s commitment to good governance.
The group urged the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and relevant appeal panels to investigate all substantiated complaints and ensure that justice is delivered swiftly and transparently.
With the APC Senatorial District primaries set to begin on Monday, May 18, 2026, CIPA called on all stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of democratic conduct. It urged delegates to vote freely and resist inducement or intimidation, and asked returning officers and supervisory officials to act with impartiality and in line with APC guidelines and the Electoral Act.
CIPA also called on the APC National Secretariat to deploy robust monitoring mechanisms across all senatorial districts and requested that security agencies maintain a neutral and professional environment free from partisan interference.
Ahead of the APC Presidential Primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, the organisation urged stakeholders, delegates, and aspirants to approach the exercise with fairness and democratic discipline.
“CIPA reaffirms its full alignment with President Tinubu’s position that the primaries must be a genuine reflection of the choice of APC members. Legitimate leadership can only emerge from a legitimate process,” the statement said.
CIPA is a values-driven civic and political support organisation aligned with the APC, focused on ethical governance, leadership development, and citizens’ participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
