Nigeria's governing party has said holding elections in January, as planned, will be difficult.
PDP spokesman Rufai Ahmed Alkali, however, declined to formally call for a delay, saying this could be "misunderstood".
On Sunday, election officials said they were looking at ways to delay the poll so they could work on a credible voters' roll.
Several heavyweight PDP figures are vying for the presidential nomination.
Over the weekend, presidential security advisor Aliyu Gusau resigned so he can stand against President Goodluck Jonathan in the party contest.
The PDP (People's Democratic Party) has won all of Nigeria's elections since military rule ended in 1999 and so its candidate will be seen as the favourite for next year's poll.
Nigeria's previous elections have been marred by widespread violence and allegations of fraud.
'Primordial analysis'Mr Jonathan, a southerner, became president in February after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua.
The PDP (People's Democratic Party) has previously said its candidate should be a northerner.
But Mr Alkali told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the party should move beyond such "primordial analysis" and select the best candidate for the job.
BBC News
