Why Leaders Pick Successors Before Party Primaries

As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 election cycle, a quiet but significant political trend is gaining attention across the country. Increasingly, some political leaders are openly indicating their preferred successors long before party primaries are conducted.

While supporters describe it as a way of ensuring continuity in governance, critics argue that it may weaken internal party democracy and limit the choices available to voters.

But how democratic is this practice really? And what impact could it have on the political space and the electorate?

Today on Nigeria Daily, we speak with a Political Analyst on the democratic implications of early succession endorsements, hear from Nigerians on how they feel about leaders choosing successors before primaries, and also engage a Public Affairs Analyst on what this trend could mean for the wider electorate.