Tensions have escalated within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party begins its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, with widening disagreements over candidate selection triggering protests, stalled negotiations and rising fears of internal disunity across several states.
The development has intensified political manoeuvring among aspirants and party leaders, particularly in states where attempts to reach consensus candidates have broken down, forcing the party to fall back on direct primaries in multiple constituencies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stepped into the unfolding crisis, urging aspirants, delegates, and party officials to conduct themselves with restraint, warning that internal rancour could weaken the party’s chances and benefit opposition forces.
Across the country, the APC’s internal election process has been marked by a mix of fragile consensus arrangements and open contests, with several states recording deep divisions over alleged imposition of preferred candidates.
While some stakeholders have managed to broker agreements, many others have collapsed under pressure from rival aspirants unwilling to step down.
The situation is particularly tense in states such as Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Oyo, Yobe and Abia, where disagreements over zoning, endorsements and the mode of primaries have split party structures into competing blocs.
In several constituencies, aspirants have rejected consensus arrangements, insisting on direct primaries as the only legitimate means of selecting candidates.
In Abia State, party leaders have moved to calm tensions, insisting that no automatic tickets exist and that all aspirants must pass through a transparent process. Stakeholders also reaffirmed that only two options — consensus or direct primaries — remain valid under party guidelines.
Similarly, in Kano State, negotiations aimed at producing consensus candidates for House of Representatives seats were still ongoing as of Thursday night, although party officials admitted that some constituencies may still proceed to competitive primaries due to unresolved disagreements.
In Taraba, reconciliation efforts suffered setbacks after several aspirants refused to withdraw, forcing the party to prepare for direct contests in multiple constituencies. Party committees in the state have continued consultations, but divisions remain strong in key areas where aspirants insist on testing their popularity.
In Yobe and Kaduna, reconciliation committees have been set up to manage grievances and reduce tensions, with governors and senior party leaders intervening to prevent a breakdown of order ahead of the primaries.
Despite these efforts, reports suggest that mistrust among aspirants continues to hinder full consensus-building.
Oyo State also witnessed protests at the APC secretariat in Ibadan, where aggrieved members accused party leaders of attempting to impose candidates. The demonstration highlighted growing frustration among grassroots members who fear that internal democracy may be undermined by powerful interests.
In contrast, some states, including Borno and Sokoto, have recorded smoother processes, with consensus arrangements largely holding and affirmation exercises expected to proceed without major disputes.
President Tinubu has urged governors and party leaders to ensure fairness in the process, stressing the need for a level playing field for all aspirants and calling on winners to reach out to losers to maintain unity. He also appealed for greater inclusion of women and youths in the selection process.
