The ruling All Progressives Congress is facing renewed internal pressure ahead of the 2027 general elections as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s publication of candidates has brought unresolved disputes from the party’s primary elections back into focus.
INEC on Saturday published the particulars of governorship candidates and their running mates for the 2027 elections in Form EC9, providing greater clarity on those expected to contest under the various political parties.
For the APC, however, the publication has highlighted disagreements in several states where aspirants and party members have challenged the outcome of the primaries, alleged irregularities or protested the substitution of candidates.
The disputes have taken different forms, including court cases, defections, factional disagreements and complaints over alleged imposition of candidates.
In Nasarawa, for instance, a legal battle over the APC governorship primary remains ongoing, with an aggrieved aspirant challenging the process that produced the party’s candidate.
Similar disagreements have emerged in Benue, where some candidates whose names were substituted by the APC National Working Committee have approached the courts seeking recognition of those who emerged from the party’s primaries.
The situation has also generated tension in Adamawa, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Imo, with some aggrieved members either pursuing legal action or moving towards opposition platforms.
In Kwara, the party has acknowledged its internal difficulties following the governorship primary that produced Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as its candidate. The disagreement subsequently contributed to the defection of Senator Saliu Mustapha to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Despite the setbacks, APC leaders maintain that reconciliation efforts are underway to bring aggrieved members back together before the election campaign gathers momentum.
The party’s Kwara Deputy Chairman, Abdullahi Samari, acknowledged the difficulties confronting the APC but insisted that the party remained strong.
“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.
Political observers, however, say the ability of the APC to resolve the grievances quickly could have significant implications for its performance in 2027.
While some states such as Bayelsa and Edo have reported relative calm after their primaries, opposition parties are already seeking to take advantage of divisions within the ruling party.
The APC therefore faces the dual task of defending its candidates listed by INEC while preventing unresolved primary disputes from weakening its grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 polls.
With the candidate lists now publicly displayed, the party’s reconciliation efforts are expected to come under greater scrutiny as aggrieved aspirants decide whether to remain within the APC, continue their legal battles or seek alternative political platforms.
