2027: INEC list rekindles APC’s post-primary crisis

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress has intensified efforts to contain the grievances and political fallout arising from its recent primary elections and the subsequent announcement of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

On Saturday, the electoral umpire released the parties’ list of governorship candidates and their running mates along with their particulars.

The publication, contained in Form EC9, was pasted at INEC headquarters across the states, effectively ending uncertainty over candidates that will fly the flags of the major political parties in the country.

The APC governorship primaries were conducted in May, but the outcome, alongside the list of candidates and aspirants uploaded to the INEC portal, has generated reactions among members of the ruling party.

Several aggrieved governorship aspirants and others vying for various positions in the ruling party raised concerns over the processes through which the chosen candidates emerged, with some seeking legal means while others defected from the party.

However, the party’s national leadership says it has begun reconciliation moves at various levels to placate aggrieved aspirants and members, urging those who lost out in the primaries to remain within the APC and work for the success of its candidates.

The move has become increasingly important as post-primary disputes have emerged across several states, ranging from court challenges and allegations of irregularities to defections and the formation of alternative political platforms by dissatisfied party members.

While the intensity of the crises varies from state to state, the developments have raised questions about the APC’s ability to consolidate its structures and present a united front in the 2027 elections.

In some states, including Gombe and Bayelsa, the party has moved quickly to establish reconciliation mechanisms or rely on existing political arrangements to prevent disagreements from escalating. In others, such as Yobe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Sokoto, Edo, Imo and Adamawa, disputes over primaries have resulted in litigation, defections, factional disagreements or growing opposition efforts to exploit the situation.

APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told The PUNCHthat the National Working Committee had held several meetings on the grievances arising from the primaries, stressing that the party must resolve its differences before going into the electoral contest.

He said reconciliation committees had been established at various levels to engage aggrieved members, adding that the party was extending an olive branch to those who failed to secure tickets.

Ibrahim stated, “The party is taking reconciliation seriously because we have to go to the battlefield united. We already have reconciliation committees at various levels working to assuage the concerns of aggrieved members.

“We are extending an olive branch to those who did not get what they wanted at the first attempt. If you don’t get what you want today, it doesn’t mean you won’t get it tomorrow.”

Gombe reconciliation committee

Gombe State Governor and leader of the party in the state, Muhammadu Yahaya, has inaugurated a 25-member reconciliation committee to resolve internal grievances and strengthen the party ahead of next year’s elections.

Yahaya charged the committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, to engage aggrieved members and aspirants and rebuild unity following recent party congresses, primary elections and local government polls.

The governor also appealed to members dissatisfied with the outcomes of the exercises to embrace dialogue and put the party’s interest first.

“We need to sheath our swords and embrace dialogue so that we can put our house in order as the 2027 general elections draw closer. Our strength lies in our unity,” Yahaya said.

The governor said the party’s target was to retain all elective positions in the state and secure at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He acknowledged that some party members were unhappy with the outcomes of the recent political exercises, particularly unsuccessful aspirants.

“Some decisions and outcomes arising from these political processes may not have gone down well with some of our members, particularly those who aspired for elective offices but were unsuccessful,” he said.

Yahaya directed the committee to identify and document grievances, mediate among contending groups and recommend the reintegration of aggrieved members.

Maihaja vs Wali

The 2027 APC governorship contest in Yobe State opened on a contentious note, with spirant Mustapha Maihaja challenging the outcome of the party’s May 21, 2026 primary that produced Alhaji Baba Wali as its candidate.

Maihaja is challenging the conduct of the primary at the Federal High Court in Damaturu, alleging that the exercise was not conducted in accordance with the APC’s guidelines and procedures.

Wali was declared winner with 236,711 votes, securing the party’s ticket to succeed Governor Mai Mala Buni.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Maihaja, Mustapha Ibrahim, SAN, told the court that witnesses had testified to alleged irregularities during the primary.

“Our case is that what took place on May 21 was not in accordance with the guidelines and procedures of the party,” Ibrahim said.

He said nine witnesses had so far testified in support of the petition, while more witnesses were expected to appear.

Counsel to the respondents, Baba Dala, SAN, however, said the case was still at an early stage, noting that only nine of the 62 witnesses listed by the petitioner had testified.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to September 7, 8 and 9 for continuation of proceedings.

The legal challenge has left the APC with the task of managing the dispute while preparing for the 2027 election. Maihaja has not, however, defected from the party or announced an alternative platform.

Wali has meanwhile appealed to the other aspirants who contested the primary to join hands with him ahead of the election, as the party seeks to prevent the post-primary disagreement from affecting its electoral prospects.

The opposition African Democratic Congress has also declared its readiness to challenge the APC in the state.

The ADC Chairman in Yobe, Umar Kalli Alhaji, said the party was confident of defeating the ruling party in 2027.

“The party is ever ready to challenge the APC and it is going to win the election without a doubt,” Kalli said.

Political analyst Abdulwahab Garba, however, believes the APC remains favoured to retain power, arguing that the opposition is not yet strong enough to dislodge the ruling party.

“The ruling party is likely to retain power in the 2027 election,” Garba said.

With the court case still ongoing, the immediate challenge for the APC is to contain the disagreement and reconcile the competing camps before the 2027 campaign gathers momentum.

Defections hit Nasarawa

The APC in Nasarawa State is facing fresh internal crisis following the defection of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu to the Social Democratic Party and the rejection of the party’s governorship primary by another aspirant, Prof. Mohammed Haruna.

Adamu, who contested the primary, resigned from the APC, citing alleged breaches of internal democracy, fairness and transparency in the conduct of the exercise.

He said the outcome had eroded his confidence in the party’s leadership and, after consultations with his supporters and associates, he decided to pursue his political ambition on another platform.

Haruna, a former Executive Vice-Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, also rejected the primary, alleging that the exercise was manipulated in favour of the APC candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada.

He alleged that partisan electoral officials were deployed in some areas, while materials and officials failed to reach several wards and polling locations. He also cited alleged intimidation and disruption during the exercise.

Haruna said his claims were supported by documentary materials, videos, photographs and testimonies gathered from party members and stakeholders across the state.

However, the APC Chairman in Nasarawa, Aliyu Bello, dismissed concerns over Adamu’s defection, saying it would not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.

Bello urged Adamu’s supporters who remained in the APC to accept the primary outcome, saying the party’s strength was based on its achievements and grassroots support.

“Brooms can be burnt, but the achievements and impacts of our party in the state and the ideology behind the broom cannot be burnt,” he said.

The developments have increased pressure on the Nasarawa APC to contain post-primary grievances and prevent further defections ahead of the 2027 elections.

Akume vs Alia

The internal crisis rocking the APC in Benue State has deepened as some candidates whose names were substituted by the party’s National Working Committee have challenged the decision in court.

A House of Assembly aspirant, Sesugh Kaaba, filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC from recognising candidates who did not win the party’s primary elections supervised by INEC.

In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, Kaaba is also seeking an order compelling the APC to forward to INEC the names of candidates who emerged from the primaries, including Governor Hyacinth Alia, Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber and Francis Ottah Agbo.

The suit, before Justice Inyang Ekwo, has been adjourned to October 12 for judgment.

The dispute followed allegations of electoral irregularities by supporters of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, after Governor Alia’s loyalists reportedly won several National Assembly primaries.

Following the petition, the APC national leadership substituted the names of several Alia loyalists with candidates backed by Akume.

Among those affected was former governor Gabriel Suswam, whose name was replaced with that of serving Senator Emmanuel Udende. Aber Terseer, the Secretary to the State Government’s wife, was also replaced by Senator Titus Zam, while six other House of Representatives candidates were reportedly substituted.

The crisis has also triggered further political movement, with former Benue House of Assembly Majority Leader, Terseer Sater, defecting from the APC to the Accord Party.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the affected candidates were unsuccessful as of press time.

Alleged imposition

The APC in Adamawa is also facing post-primary crisis, with allegations of candidate imposition and defections to opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

Several candidates were reportedly adopted without primaries, including Laori Kwamoti for Numan/Demsa/Lamurde, James Barka for Gombi/Hong and Zakaria Nyampa for Madagali/Michika Federal Constituencies.

An APC chieftain, Abubakar Gambo, alleged that the party conducted no primaries for the various positions, saying members were presented with candidates whose emergence they could not explain.

The controversy has also triggered defections. Former APC senatorial candidate Peter Fwa and Vrati Zonzo reportedly left the party for the Labour Party, citing what they described as injustice and political robbery.

Similarly, the PDP governorship candidate, Maurice Vunobolki, said fear of candidate imposition influenced his decision to leave the APC for the PDP.

He said that, having been a victim of imposition in the past, he did not want to face another disappointment in the ruling party, noting that the average voter in Adamawa State does not bow to the interests of political godfathers when casting their ballots.

However, APC Publicity Secretary, Dogo Victor, said the party was engaging aggrieved members and expressed optimism that some would return.

“We are talking to the aggrieved members and we are getting positive results,” he said.

Political analyst Gambo Mohammed, however, described the APC as being in disarray and doubted its chances of defeating the PDP in 2027, citing the alleged imposition of unpopular candidates.

Sokoto, Kebbi

The APC chapters in Sokoto and Kebbi states are also facing fresh challenges ahead of the 2027 elections following disputes over candidate selection and the defection of some party members to opposition platforms.

In Kebbi, the crisis became more pronounced after Senator Garba Maidoki, representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, defected from the APC to the African Democratic Congress.

Maidoki, who had previously moved from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, reportedly left the ruling party after being screened out of the APC senatorial primary.

He said his decision followed consultations with his supporters and constituents, citing grievances over what he described as injustice within the party.

His defection came after Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah withdrew from the Kebbi South senatorial primary, alleging that the outcome had been predetermined.

The developments have raised concerns over the APC’s ability to retain the political structures associated with the affected politicians ahead of the 2027 polls.

In Sokoto, Governor Ahmed Aliyu emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate through a consensus arrangement, with the party describing the process as peaceful and the product of consultations among stakeholders.

However, the state has also recorded movements of APC members to opposition parties.

House of Representatives member representing Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency, Isah Ambarura, defected from the APC to the ADC, while reports of hundreds of APC members in Goronyo also joining the ADC have added to concerns over grassroots support for the ruling party.

Although Ambarura’s defection was not explicitly linked to the 2027 primary, the development reflects the fluid political alignments ahead of the elections.

APC in charge

Kwara State APC says it remains in control of the state despite internal disagreements following its recent primaries and the defection of some prominent members to the Peoples Democratic Party.

The party’s Deputy Chairman, Abdullahi Samari, acknowledged that the APC was passing through a difficult period but expressed confidence that it would win the 2027 elections.

“Things will be better than this before election. It is a tough time for our party. But we will win the election because we are still in charge,” he said.

The crisis followed the May 22 governorship primary that produced Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the APC candidate. A group of aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders, known as the G15, rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities and manipulation.

The dispute has since triggered reconciliation efforts by the APC, but the party suffered a major setback after Senator Saliu Mustapha resigned and joined the PDP, where he secured the Kwara Central senatorial ticket.

The defection has intensified the contest with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is expected to contest for the same senatorial seat after leaving office in 2027.

The PDP has also authorised former Senate President Bukola Saraki to engage members of the G15 and other groups as it seeks to strengthen its position ahead of the election.

However, not all members of the G15 have defected, leaving room for further reconciliation.

Political analyst Abdulrasaq Olanrewaju warned that continued movement of APC members to the PDP could affect the ruling party’s electoral prospects.

“If this momentum continues, PDP may well have a brighter road to victory in 2027,” he said.

Araraume, Okorocha kick

Down south, the situation isn’t different.

In Imo State, the party is facing post-primary litigation, with Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha challenging the party’s senatorial tickets in court.

Araraume sued the APC at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the Imo North senatorial ticket, which the party awarded to incumbent Senator Patrick Ndubueze.

Similarly, Okorocha is challenging the Imo West senatorial ticket of Governor Hope Uzodimma, despite the governor emerging as the party’s candidate in the primary.

The legal disputes come as Imo prepares for the governorship election scheduled for 2028 due to the state’s off-cycle electoral calendar.

Meanwhile, political debate has intensified over whether the Owerri or Okigwe zone should produce Uzodimma’s successor.

Reacting to the lawsuits, the state’s APC spokesman Jones Onwuasoanya dismissed them as “frivolous” and said the two politicians were seeking personal political settlements rather than challenging any genuine electoral irregularity.

He maintained that the APC primary was transparent and credible, adding that more than 98 per cent of the party’s over 200 aspirants had accepted the outcome and joined reconciliation efforts.

According to him, the party has urged Araraume and Okorocha to withdraw their suits and return to the party, insisting that the APC remains united ahead of the 2027 elections.

“There is no dispute. The party is intact,” Onwuasoanya said.

Ebonyi APC divided

Findings by The PUNCH showed that the party is also grappling with internal divisions in Ebonyi State following the fallout from its National Assembly primaries, with the dispute threatening the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

The crisis centres on the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, where a court case is challenging the candidacy of Joseph Ekumankama, whose name replaced that of incumbent Idu Igariwey on the APC’s final list of candidates.

Igariwey, who has represented the constituency for 12 years, is challenging Ekumankama’s candidacy, alleging that he did not participate in the party’s primary. The court is expected to rule on the matter on September 9, 2026.

The dispute has also exposed a political divide between Governor Francis Nwifuru and Minister of Works and former governor, David Umahi. Candidates backed by the two camps reportedly conducted separate primaries and announced conflicting results in the constituency.

An APC chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that the lingering disagreement between the governor and the minister could weaken the party’s chances in 2027.

“The situation, which has lingered since the governor declared his support for some candidates and dropped others during the consensus time, will not give the party a soft-landing come 2027,” he said.

Bayelsa, Edo

The Bayelsa chapter of the party said it had, however, recorded relative calm after its National and State House of Assembly primaries, with no major defection or court challenge reported.

The APC adopted direct primaries using the Option A4 voting system, while zoning arrangements also influenced the emergence of candidates.

State APC chairman, Warman Ogoriba, said the party had yet to constitute its campaign council but declined to disclose details of its strategy for managing post-primary issues.

“We adopted a strategy, and that strategy I will not disclose to the media,” he said, noting that no major aspirant had so far defected or challenged the primaries in court.

Public affairs analyst, Clifford Doubara, attributed the relative peace partly to zoning arrangements, which he said helped manage competing interests among communities and political blocs.

He, however, cautioned that zoning should not replace the right of qualified members to participate in the primary process.

In Edo, the APC dismissed concerns over post-primary divisions, despite tensions arising from the Edo South senatorial primary.

Former House of Representatives member Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama defeated incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to secure the ticket, which left some supporters dissatisfied.

State APC Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said the defeated aspirants had accepted the outcome and remained committed to the party, attributing the development partly to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s reconciliation efforts.

“Our party has an internal conflict resolution mechanism,” he said, adding that the APC was already preparing its campaign team ahead of the election.

However, ADC spokesperson Chris Ojeikere claimed that some aggrieved APC members were quietly joining the opposition party.

He said several APC members were in discussions with the ADC but were reluctant to openly defect because of fear of political retaliation.

Political analyst Christian Osato, however, said defections alone would not determine the outcome of the 2027 election, stressing that voter mobilisation, campaign strategy, polling-unit organisation and financial strength would remain critical factors.

“Well, it’s good to get more members into a party but that might not determine the party that wins. Each will have to mobilise their members and other voters to come out en mass and vote for their candidates,” he said.(Punch)