APC risks internal crises as govs ‘hijack’ nomination forms

• Presidential hopeful laments inability to access forms, payment details
• Delayed dispatch of forms to states fuels transparency concerns
• Scramble for forms exposes deepening tensions within party ranks
• Govs’ dominance raises fears of candidate imposition, eroded democracy
• Party chieftains warn of protests, litigation, electoral backlash
• APC fixes May 23, 2026 for presidential primary, begins form sales
• HURIWA cautions against over-centralisation, warns of democratic backslide

As the All Progressives Congress (APC) begins its march towards 2027, a clash over access to nomination forms has exposed a deeper battle for control, with governors and aspirants locked in a contest that risks triggering a damaging internal rupture.

Some aggrieved aspirants yesterday raised the alarm that state governors in the party have hijacked the distribution of expression of interest and nomination forms meant for the states, with a view to allocating them to preferred candidates.

They called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by calling the governors to order.

The development came to the fore when a presidential aspirant, Chief Osifo Stanley, declared in Abuja that he had been unable to obtain the party’s nomination form after making repeated efforts since last weekend.

According to him, attempts to reach party officials and secure the necessary payment details proved abortive.
“I made calls between Saturday and yesterday to officials of the party. The account number required to pay for the form is yet to be made available to me as we speak,” he said.

Investigations revealed that Stanley’s experience may not be isolated. Multiple aspirants seeking tickets for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly positions are reportedly facing similar challenges, raising concerns over transparency in the process.

Credible sources in some states disclosed that the forms, which ought to have been dispatched to the 36 states since last Saturday, have yet to be seen. They urged the party’s national headquarters and its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, to clarify the situation.

As of yesterday, the forms had yet to reach Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and several other states, as confirmed by The Guardian. A source alleged that state governors should be held responsible for the delay.

The development reinforces earlier claims that, across several states, the scramble for nomination forms has exposed deep-seated tensions within the party, with many aspirants reportedly unable to access the forms without the backing of their governors. Insiders warn that the situation is breeding resentment and fuelling fears that the party’s internal democratic processes are being eroded.

Investigations reveal that in key states, governors and their loyalists have allegedly taken control of party structures, influencing not only who obtains the forms but also who eventually emerges as candidates. This, observers say, has narrowed the political space within the party, sidelining grassroots aspirants and those outside the governors’ political camps.

The situation has revived longstanding concerns about the dominance of governors in the APC’s internal affairs. Party stakeholders have repeatedly cautioned against what they describe as the “over-centralisation” of power at the state level, warning that such tendencies could trigger factional disputes and destabilise the party.

A party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the unfolding scenario mirrors past experiences where imposition of candidates led to protests, litigation and, in some cases, electoral losses. “When forms are no longer accessible to everyone and the process is skewed in favour of a few, you are setting the stage for crisis. People will resist being shut out,” he said.

Another party source blamed the situation on alleged interference by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, accusing them of attempting to hijack and control access to the forms in favour of preferred aspirants.

The source also linked the development to the open endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), suggesting that the move may have complicated the process for other presidential hopefuls.

Despite the hurdles, Stanley insisted that no endorsement overrides constitutional provisions or party rules.

“There is no part of our party constitution that says when people endorse the President, he automatically becomes the candidate or remains the only pathway. The constitution and INEC regulations empower me to run. I believe strongly that we all have the right to enjoy our constitutional rights,” he stated.

The 50-year-old aspirant said his ambition is driven by a desire to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth, with a focus on key sectors including the economy, security, healthcare, water resources and regional integration.

Tracing his political journey, the Edo-born politician noted that he began his career in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2018, later obtained a form under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before joining the APC.

He added that he contested in 2023 and actively supported President Tinubu’s victory.

He dismissed claims of political sponsorship, maintaining that he has financed his political activities independently.

On governance, Stanley acknowledged efforts by the current administration but stressed the need for new approaches, particularly in the power sector.

“Power is the engine room that drives the global economy. We have dams, solar and gas. With more research and the right policies, we can do much better,” he said.

He also decried the monetisation of Nigeria’s electoral process, arguing that leadership should not be determined by financial muscle.

“In other parts of the world, leaders emerge without excessive spending. We have seen examples in countries like the UK and the U.S. Nigeria deserves a system where competence, not money, determines leadership,” he added.

Stanley further invoked Nigeria’s founding leaders — Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo — as symbols of the kind of visionary leadership the country needs.

This came as the APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State, Olawale Sadare, confirmed that no forms had reached the state. He added that, contrary to the allegations, aspirants are expected to obtain their nomination forms at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, rather than at the state level.

Also debunking the claims, Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy, said the party never indicated that the sale of forms would be decentralised.

While acknowledging that governors are leaders of the party in their respective states, he insisted that such status does not give them the latitude to tamper with internal democratic processes designed to ensure fairness and equity for all aspirants. He urged party members to disregard fears of any alleged hijack of nomination forms.

APC begins sale of forms amid anxiety over delayed account details

Meanwhile, the APC yesterday released its revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, signalling the start of the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to aspirants, amid lingering concerns over earlier delays in providing payment details.

The party fixed its presidential primary for May 23, 2026.

The timetable, issued by the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, aligns with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the schedule released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the schedule, the sale of forms began on April 25, 2026, while submission of completed forms will close on May 2, 2026.

Screening of aspirants for elective positions—including State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential—will hold between May 4 and May 8, with publication of results slated for May 9. Screening appeals are fixed for May 11.

Primary elections will be conducted from May 12 to May 23, 2026.

A breakdown shows that House of Representatives primaries will take place on May 15, Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and the presidential primary on May 23.

The APC said presidential aspirants will pay N100 million for forms, N30 million for expression of interest and N70 million for nomination, while governorship forms cost N50 million. Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly forms are pegged at N20 million, N10 million and N6 million, respectively.

Female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities will pay only for the expression of interest forms and 50 per cent of the nomination fees.

The release of the timetable follows anxiety among aspirants over delays by the party leadership in making official bank account details available for the purchase of forms.

Some aspirants had earlier expressed frustration over the uncertainty, noting that while the timetable had been anticipated, the absence of clear payment channels created confusion and raised concerns about transparency and equal access.

Party sources said the delay in publishing the account details slowed the take-off of the process, with many aspirants unable to proceed with payments despite their readiness.

With the accounts—Union Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank—now released, the process is expected to gather momentum in the coming days as aspirants move to meet submission deadlines.

The timetable was signed by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu.

HURIWA warns of govs’ grip on parties, fears for internal democracy ahead of 2027
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has expressed concern over what it described as the growing control of political parties by state governors, warning that the trend could undermine internal democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued yesterday, the group’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the increasing dominance of governors over party structures at ward, local government and state levels is gradually reshaping the political space in a way that weakens participation by ordinary party members.

The organisation said the development is already influencing how candidates emerge for elections, raising fears that party primaries may no longer reflect the will of members but the preferences of a few powerful office holders.

HURIWA warned that such a situation poses a serious threat to democratic practice, describing it as a drift away from constitutional principles of participation and accountability.

“This is not democracy. This is political colonisation,” the group said, stressing that the consolidation of power within a small political elite risks reducing voters to spectators in the electoral process.

It further argued that if governors are allowed to determine candidates for legislative and executive offices, it could weaken internal checks within political parties and produce leaders who are more accountable to individuals than to the electorate.

HURIWA also linked the trend to broader concerns about declining public trust in democratic institutions and increasing political tension across the country.

The group noted that the weakening of party structures is occurring at a time when Nigeria is also grappling with insecurity, economic pressures and institutional challenges, factors it said are compounding governance difficulties.

“Governors are not kings. Political parties are not private estates. Nigeria is not a conquered territory,” the statement read.

The organisation called for urgent reforms to restore internal democracy within political parties, insisting that credible primaries must be conducted without interference from political office holders.

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen oversight of party processes and ensure compliance with democratic standards ahead of the 2027 elections.

HURIWA also called on the National Assembly to consider laws that would discourage undue interference in party administration and strengthen accountability within the political system.

The group further appealed to civil society organisations, the media and citizens to remain vigilant and actively resist any attempt to undermine democratic participation.

It warned that failure to address the growing influence of governors over party structures could distort the electoral process and weaken the credibility of future elections.

HURIWA said Nigeria must urgently reinforce internal party democracy if it is to preserve the integrity of its democratic system and prevent a drift towards political capture.

Two aspirants pick APC forms for Kano Central senatorial race ahead of 2027
Two members of the All Progressives Congress vying for the Kano Central Senatorial District have so far purchased nomination and expression of interest forms in Kano.

The contestants seeking the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general election are Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura and Garba Yusuf Abubakar.

Although posters of several other APC chieftains seeking the ticket dominate public spaces, a credible source revealed that the party secretariat has yet to receive any other aspirant as of the time of filing this report.

Zaura, who submitted his expression of interest form at the Audu Bako Party Secretariat on Sunday amid a large crowd of supporters, expressed willingness to promote legislative processes that will enhance the living standards of the people of Kano Central.

Popularly called AA Zaura, he said he possesses the necessary qualities to represent the senatorial district at the National Assembly and expressed confidence in his chances of victory against other contenders.

Zaura, who lost the same contest in 2023 to the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, declared that he is “battle ready” to clinch the seat in 2027.

On his part, Garba Yusuf Abubakar, a former Commissioner for Environment and Information during the administration of Ibrahim Shekarau, is an influential grassroots politician.

Known as Garba Hizala, he is also popular among an Islamic group in Kano and, until his recent defection to the APC, was a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state. (Guardian)