*New Electoral Act Or Self-Coronation in Disguise?*

By Gbenga Shaba 

Nigeria’s democracy has taken a dramatic turn with the signing of a new Electoral Act by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following its passage by the National Assembly. At the heart of this new law is the complete removal of the delegate system, otherwise known as indirect primaries, as a method for political parties to choose their candidates. For decades, party delegates played a decisive role in determining who emerged as flag bearers. That era has now been brought to an abrupt end.

Under the new legal framework, political parties are left with only two recognised options for selecting candidates. The first is direct primaries, where every registered party member is entitled to vote in choosing the party’s candidate. The second is consensus, an internal agreement process in which aspirants voluntarily step down to allow a single candidate to emerge. By abolishing indirect primaries, the law eliminates the traditional system where a small group of selected delegates decides the fate of aspirants.

Supporters of the reform argue that this marks a shift toward internal democracy. The principle of one member, one vote gives broader participation to party faithful and reduces the influence of powerful blocs that once controlled delegate lists. In theory, it expands political power beyond a privileged few and places it directly in the hands of grassroots members. For many ordinary party members who previously had no voice during primaries, this could represent a significant opportunity.

However, critics see deeper political implications. They warn that while direct primaries appear more democratic on paper, the process could be easily influenced by those who control party registers and structures at the national level. Concerns are also being raised about the practicality, cost, and transparency of conducting nationwide direct primaries across all political parties. Without strong safeguards, the promise of wider participation may not necessarily translate into fairer outcomes.

Ultimately, the removal of delegates from party primaries represents a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s internal party politics. Whether this reform strengthens democracy or consolidates power will depend on how faithfully it is implemented. What is certain is that the landscape of political competition has changed, and Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether this new law deepens democratic inclusion or reshapes control in a different form.

Senate Backs FCC, Says Underfunding Weakens Constitutional Mandate

The Senate Committee on Federal Character has raised serious concern over the underfunding of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), warning that it is affecting the Commission’s ability to carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

During the 2026 budget defence at the National Assembly, the Executive Chairman of the FCC, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, presented a proposed budget of ₦6.5 billion and explained that limited funding has reduced the Commission’s capacity to properly monitor and enforce compliance across more than 700 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

She stressed that without adequate funding, the Commission cannot effectively ensure fairness, balance, and equal representation in federal appointments and public service.

“We are appealing to the Senate to support improved funding for the Commission. Federal Character is a constitutional duty, and we must be equipped to enforce it effectively for the good of national unity,” she said.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator Allwell Heacho, described the funding gap as a serious setback.

“Federal Character is not optional. It is backed by the Constitution. The Commission responsible for enforcing it must be properly funded to deliver,” he stated.

He assured that the Senate Committee is committed to supporting the FCC to strengthen its operations and improve accountability across government institutions.

With support now coming from both the Senate and House Committees, the FCC is set to push for stronger enforcement and better service delivery nationwide

Apostle Suleman Lectures:

Your Association Determines Your Acceleration; If You’re Gifted, You’ll Stand Out

Gifted people are always different. They stand out and never fit in because God uses them in a greater way, the servant of God and founder of the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, lectures. Speaking about gifts, in particular, spiritual gifts, the ‘Restoration Apostle’ noted that every man is gifted by God. He stated in his sermon that gifts are the result of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

While suggesting that where a man is most gifted is where he will be most lifted, Apostle Suleman declares that, to stand out in one’s generation, the person must be gifted.

“To be gifted is to be specifically empowered. To be gifted is to be supernaturally assisted to fulfil a task. Many of us are praying for helpers, but you cannot stand before helpers without anything to offer. A man’s gift maketh room. The more gifted you are, the more rooms you have (Proverbs 18:16). Man’s gift maketh rooms for him and bringeth him before great men. No Joseph appears before a Pharaoh until he has capacity to interpret his dreams. The king sent for Daniel because there was a gift in his life. He stood out because there was a gift he had. The problem is not getting helpers, when you have a gift, helpers will look for you. What is your gift?

Apostle Suleman asserts that every man possesses inherent, distinct gifts that are designed to be developed and deployed for a specific purpose. However, he emphasizes, identifying one’s unique gift or purpose requires a defining moment, experience, or interaction rather than just passive introspection, designed to unlock potentials that have been dormant.

“There is nobody that is not gifted. Everyone is equally gifted but it takes an encounter to discover your gift. The gift can be there, hidden but it takes an encounter to discover it. The Bible says Saul was met by Samuel and Samuel took a vial of oil and anointed Saul and said is it not because the Lord hath ordained thee to be captain over the people of God (1 Samuel 10:1). Saul was not a king of Israel, he was a captain. That is why his son, Jonathan could not step into the stool because kingship is by inheritance, but captain-ship is by appointment. So, when Saul met the prophet he began to prophesy. It takes meeting a man to enter the next season. Season is not a bait, it is a man. It takes meeting the right man. The second thing that empowered Saul to stand out was that he joined the right team; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Highlighting that the people a man surrounds himself with, learn from, and follow, directly influence the speed and success of his life’s progress, the man of God submits that positive associations can accelerate man’s destiny, while negative associations can drive stagnation, delays, and limitations.

“Your association determines your acceleration. If you’re with the wrong people, you will get the wrong experiences. It is very important. Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. (Psalm 1:1,2,3). You start by walking with them. If you keep walking with them, you’ll soon stand with them. When you stand with them, you’ll sit with them. You must be extremely picky in your relationship. There are some people that should be made to know, because they’re not aware that they’re not your friends. They assume they are your friends but you have to let them know that you are colleagues not friends. You have to be very intentional because friends either add, subtract, divide or minus. You can’t have a friend who’s playing neutrality.

In your walk with God, when the enemy wants to destroy you he will introduce you to a strange company. Any company that kills your fear of God is a wrong company. The right company will make you think of heaven. A right company will want to make you live clean, pure and right. The right company will make you God-conscious. The right company is family-oriented. A right company will make sure you avoid conflicts. A right company will promote God not greed,” he counsels.