An election that allows political parties to choose a flag bearer for general election is called

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the name of the election in which a political party chooses its flag bearer (the candidate who will represent it) for the general election.

Step 2: Explain the concept Before a general election, each party must decide who will carry its banner for each office, such as President, Governor, or Senator. Parties do this through an internal selection process. This process is called a party primary (or primary election). It can be done by direct primaries, where all registered party members vote, or by indirect primaries, where elected delegates vote on behalf of members.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Bye-election: This is held to fill a vacant seat between general elections, for example when a legislator dies or resigns. It has nothing to do with choosing a party's flag bearer.
• B. Party convention: This is a gathering of party members and delegates. A convention can be the venue where a primary is held or where the candidate is ratified, but the election that selects the flag bearer is the primary. A convention is a meeting, not the type of election itself.
• C. Party primary: This is the internal election where party members or delegates choose the party's candidate for the general election. This matches the question exactly.
• D. Off season: This is an election held outside the normal election cycle, such as the Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo governorship elections in Nigeria. It is not a party selection process.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C. party primary.

Tip: Think "primary = first." It is the first stage of the election process, where a party picks its candidate before the main (general) election. If the question says "election" and "choose a candidate within the party," the answer is primary.