BREAKING: “We Don’t Hold Primary In Our Party, We Pick Those That We Want To Pick–Ajibola Basiru

According to a report by Vanguard on Sunday, May 31, 2026, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ajibola Basiru, has stated that the party’s primary election process is not the ultimate determinant of who emerges as its candidates for elective positions, suggesting that final decisions are made through the party’s leadership structure.

His remarks have attracted attention following the circulation of a video on social media in which he appeared to be addressing party members during a meeting.

In the viral video, Basiru was seen speaking in the Yoruba language while discussing the process through which candidates emerge within the APC.

During the interaction, he reportedly explained that the party’s National Secretariat plays a significant role in the submission and recognition of candidates for major elective offices.

His comments focused on the internal mechanisms used by the party in determining who ultimately represents it in elections.

According to Basiru, candidates for positions such as President, Senate, and the House of Representatives are uploaded by the party’s National Secretariat.

He indicated that this procedure forms part of the party’s candidate selection framework and suggested that assumptions about certain aspirants automatically emerging through primary elections alone may not accurately reflect the party’s internal decision-making processes.

The APC National Secretary also appeared to dismiss discussions surrounding some aspirants’ chances of winning party primaries, describing such debates as misplaced.

His remarks implied that the outcome of internal contests may not always be the sole factor considered in determining who eventually becomes the party’s official candidate for a particular election.

The comments have since generated public attention due to their implications for the party’s nomination procedures.

He said, “We don’t hold primary in our party. We pick those that we want to pick. The claim of a winner of a primary is false.”