The All Progressives Congress (APC) has come under intense criticism following its decision to revise the list of candidates produced from its National Assembly primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The changes, which followed recommendations from the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee, have drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties, while the APC insists the review was lawful, fair, and reflected the wishes of its members.
The controversy emerged after the APC directed its state chapters to release the final list of candidates and issued Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms for submission.
However, several aspirants who were initially declared winners of the May senatorial primaries alleged that they had been replaced after the party’s National Working Committee reviewed petitions arising from the exercise.
The development has also created uncertainty after INEC warned that it would reject candidates who did not emerge from primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
According to reports, the APC National Working Committee overturned the victories of several senatorial candidates across Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.
The revised list restored the candidacies of six serving senators, including Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Olajide Ipinsagba, while Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Erondu in Abia South.
Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam was among those affected, with his earlier victory in the Benue North-East primary reportedly nullified in favour of the incumbent senator, Emmanuel Udende.
The Peoples Democratic Party described the development as evidence of confusion and growing internal divisions within the ruling party.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed said the opposition welcomed the crisis, arguing that it would provide an opportunity to challenge the APC more effectively in the 2027 elections.
He added that the PDP remained open to receiving politicians who felt unfairly treated by their parties.
The Labour Party also faulted the revisions, describing the replacement of candidates who emerged from valid primaries as undemocratic and contrary to the spirit of the Electoral Act.
National Publicity Secretary Ken Asogwa said the party had consistently respected the outcome of its primaries and warned that allowing such substitutions without consequences undermined Nigeria’s democratic process. He referenced similar disputes ahead of the 2023 general elections, arguing that the absence of sanctions had encouraged repeated violations.
The African Democratic Congress similarly criticised the APC’s handling of the exercise, warning that the decision could deepen resentment among party members and ultimately weaken the ruling party ahead of the next general elections.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi maintained that his party would only replace candidates if they voluntarily withdrew, insisting that transparent primaries remained essential for strengthening internal democracy.
The Social Democratic Party also described the development as undemocratic, although it maintained that the matter remained an internal affair of the APC. SDP National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba said Nigerians would ultimately judge whether such practices reflected the kind of political system they desired, stressing that his party was focused on presenting alternative solutions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Not everyone opposed the APC’s decision. Obidient Movement Worldwide National Coordinator Dr Yunusa Tanko argued that political parties have constitutional powers to determine their candidates through internal mechanisms, including appeal processes.
He noted that the Supreme Court decisions had consistently recognised parties’ authority to nominate candidates, provided they followed their constitutions and established procedures.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress expressed a similar view, saying the Electoral Act allowed parties to address irregularities and make decisions through recognised internal processes.
Defending the revised list, APC Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim dismissed criticism from opposition parties and insisted that every alteration followed the party’s appeal process.
He said the revisions demonstrated fairness, justice and respect for the wishes of party members rather than arbitrary imposition. Ibrahim argued that aggrieved aspirants were given the opportunity to seek redress through the appeal committee and maintained that the APC remained committed to democratic principles, internal fairness and carrying members along after every contest.
