By Adeola Kunle
The ruling All Progressives Congress is confronting a series of internal disputes across several states as it works to reconcile members dissatisfied with the outcome of its 2026 primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest concerns followed the publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday of the particulars of governorship candidates and their running mates submitted by political parties.
The details, contained in Form EC9 and displayed at INEC offices across the states, have effectively clarified the candidates expected to contest under the banners of the major parties.
For the APC, however, the publication has also brought renewed attention to disagreements that followed its governorship primaries conducted in May.
Several aspirants who failed to secure tickets have questioned the processes that produced the party's candidates. While some have resorted to litigation, others have left the APC for opposition parties or alternative political platforms.
The disputes vary from state to state, but include allegations of irregularities, candidate substitution, court actions, defections and factional disagreements. The developments have raised concerns about whether the APC can resolve its internal differences and enter the 2027 contest as a united political force.
The party's national leadership has responded by initiating reconciliation efforts at different levels. Its officials have urged unsuccessful aspirants and other aggrieved members to remain within the party and support its candidates.
The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the National Working Committee had held several meetings over complaints arising from the primaries.
He explained that reconciliation committees had been established at different levels to engage dissatisfied members and find ways of resolving their concerns.
“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,” Ibrahim said.
Gombe begins reconciliation
In Gombe State, Governor and APC leader Muhammadu Yahaya has moved to address internal disagreements by inaugurating a 25-member reconciliation committee.
The committee, headed by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, has been tasked with engaging aggrieved aspirants and members and rebuilding unity following recent party congresses, primary elections and local government polls.
Yahaya urged members unhappy with the outcomes of the exercises to choose dialogue and place the party's interests above individual ambitions.
“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,” the governor said.
He said the APC's objective was to retain all elective positions in Gombe and deliver at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The governor acknowledged that some members, particularly unsuccessful aspirants, were unhappy with decisions arising from the recent political exercises.
He directed the reconciliation committee to document the grievances, mediate between opposing groups and make recommendations for bringing aggrieved members back into the fold.
Yobe primary faces court challenge
The APC's choice of Alhaji Baba Wali as its governorship candidate in Yobe State has been challenged by another aspirant, Mustapha Maihaja.
Maihaja is contesting the May 21, 2026 primary before the Federal High Court in Damaturu, alleging that the exercise did not comply with the APC's rules and procedures.
Wali was declared the winner with 236,711 votes and is expected to contest for the position of governor after Mai Mala Buni.
During the resumed proceedings, Maihaja's counsel, Mustapha Ibrahim, SAN, told the court that witnesses had given evidence concerning alleged irregularities.
“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 disclosed that nine witnesses had testified for the petitioner, with additional witnesses expected to appear.
Counsel representing the respondents, Baba Dala, SAN, argued that the case remained at an early stage because only nine of the 62 witnesses listed by Maihaja had testified.
The court adjourned the case to September 7, 8 and 9 for further proceedings.
Maihaja has not left the APC or announced plans to contest on another platform.
Meanwhile, Wali has appealed to the other aspirants who contested the primary to support him as the party attempts to prevent the dispute from damaging its chances at the polls.
The African Democratic Congress has also expressed confidence that it can defeat the APC in Yobe.
ADC state chairman Umar Kalli Alhaji said the party was prepared for the contest and would win the election.
“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 in a stronger position, arguing that opposition parties have yet to build sufficient strength to dislodge the ruling party.
“The ruling party is likely to retain power in the 2027 election,” Garba said.
Nasarawa records defections and fresh complaints
The APC in Nasarawa State is also battling internal disagreements following the departure of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu to the Social Democratic Party and the rejection of the governorship primary by Prof. Mohammed Haruna.
Adamu, who contested the primary, resigned from the APC and cited alleged violations of internal democracy, fairness and transparency.
He said the outcome had weakened his confidence in the party's leadership and that, after consulting supporters and associates, he decided to continue 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 result.
He alleged that the exercise was manipulated to favour Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the APC candidate.
Among his allegations were the deployment of partisan electoral officials in some locations, failure of officials and election materials to reach certain wards and polling centres, as well as intimidation and disruption during the exercise.
Haruna said he had documentary evidence, videos, photographs and testimonies from party members and other stakeholders to support his claims.
Nasarawa APC Chairman Aliyu Bello, however, played down the significance of Adamu's defection, insisting that it would not undermine the party's prospects in 2027.
He called on Adamu's supporters still in the APC to accept the primary result, arguing that the party's achievements and grassroots support remained its major strengths.
“Brooms can be burnt, but the achievements and impacts of our party in the state and the ideology behind the broom cannot be burnt,” Bello said.
Benue substitution dispute reaches court
In Benue State, disagreements over candidate substitutions have pushed some APC members into litigation.
House of Assembly aspirant Sesugh Kaaba has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to prevent INEC and the APC from recognising candidates who did not win the party's primaries supervised by the electoral commission.
In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, Kaaba is seeking an order directing the APC to submit to INEC the names of candidates who emerged from the primaries. The names listed include Governor Hyacinth Alia, Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber and Francis Ottah Agbo.
Justice Inyang Ekwo is handling the matter, which has been adjourned until October 12 for judgment.
The dispute followed allegations of irregularities by supporters of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, after candidates backed by Governor Alia reportedly won several National Assembly primaries.
The APC National Working Committee subsequently replaced the names of several Alia-backed candidates with candidates supported by Akume.
Former governor Gabriel Suswam was among those affected, with his name replaced by serving Senator Emmanuel Udende. Aber Terseer, the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, was replaced by Senator Titus Zam, while six other House of Representatives candidates were also reportedly substituted.
The disagreement has contributed to further political realignment, including the defection of former Benue House of Assembly Majority Leader Terseer Sater from the APC to the Accord Party.
Attempts to obtain comments from the affected candidates were unsuccessful as of press time.
Adamawa members protest alleged imposition
Similar complaints have emerged in Adamawa, where APC members have accused the party of imposing candidates without conducting primaries for some positions.
Among those reportedly adopted were Laori Kwamoti for the Numan/Demsa/Lamurde Federal Constituency, James Barka for Gombi/Hong and Zakaria Nyampa for Madagali/Michika.
APC chieftain Abubakar Gambo alleged that no primaries were conducted for the affected positions, leaving party members with candidates whose emergence they could not account for.
The controversy has also resulted in defections. Former APC senatorial candidate Peter Fwa and Vrati Zonzo reportedly moved to the Labour Party, citing alleged injustice and political marginalisation.
PDP governorship candidate Maurice Vunobolki also said fear of candidate imposition contributed to his decision to leave the APC for the PDP.
He said he had previously experienced what he described as imposition and did not want to face another such situation, adding that voters in Adamawa were not necessarily controlled by political godfathers when making their choices.
APC Publicity Secretary Dogo Victor said the party was engaging dissatisfied members and believed some of them 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 questioned its ability to defeat the PDP in 2027, particularly because of alleged imposition of unpopular candidates.
Kebbi and Sokoto face political realignment
The APC is also dealing with internal challenges in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
In Kebbi, Senator Garba Maidoki, who represents Kebbi South Senatorial District, defected from the APC to the African Democratic Congress after reportedly being screened out of the APC senatorial primary.
Maidoki had previously moved from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC. He said he decided to leave the ruling party after consulting his supporters and constituents and cited what he described as injustice within the APC.
His departure came after Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah withdrew from the Kebbi South senatorial primary, alleging that the outcome had already been determined.
The developments have raised questions about whether the APC can retain the political structures and support associated with the affected politicians.
In Sokoto, Governor Ahmed Aliyu emerged as the APC governorship candidate through a consensus process. The party described the arrangement as peaceful and said it followed consultations among stakeholders.
However, the state has also witnessed defections. House of Representatives member representing Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency, Isah Ambarura, left the APC for the ADC.
Reports that hundreds of APC members in Goronyo had also moved to the ADC have further increased concerns about the ruling party's grassroots support.
Although Ambarura did not expressly link his defection to the 2027 primary, his movement reflects the changing political alliances ahead of the elections.
Kwara APC insists it remains in control
The APC in Kwara State has maintained that it remains capable of winning the 2027 election despite internal disagreements and the departure of prominent members.
The party's Deputy Chairman, Abdullahi Samari, admitted that the APC was experiencing a difficult period but insisted that it remained in control.
“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 dispute followed the May 22 governorship primary that produced the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the APC candidate.
A group of dissatisfied aspirants and stakeholders known as the G15 rejected the result, alleging manipulation and irregularities.
Although reconciliation efforts have begun, the APC suffered a significant setback when Senator Saliu Mustapha resigned from the party and joined the PDP, where he secured the Kwara Central senatorial ticket.
His defection has added another dimension to the contest, particularly because Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is expected to seek the same senatorial seat after leaving office in 2027.
The PDP has authorised former Senate President Bukola Saraki to engage members of the G15 and other groups in an effort to strengthen the opposition party's position.
Some G15 members, however, have remained in the APC, leaving open the possibility of further reconciliation.
Political analyst Abdulrasaq Olanrewaju warned that continued defections could hurt the APC's chances.
“If this momentum continues, PDP may well have a brighter road to victory in 2027,” he said.
Imo tickets trigger court actions
In Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and former governor Rochas Okorocha have taken their disagreements with the APC's senatorial ticket decisions to court.
Araraume filed a case at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the party's decision to give the Imo North senatorial ticket to incumbent Senator Patrick Ndubueze.
Okorocha is similarly challenging the Imo West senatorial ticket won by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The legal battles are unfolding as Imo prepares for its next governorship election in 2028 because of the state's off-cycle election timetable.
Political discussions have meanwhile intensified over whether the Owerri or Okigwe zone should produce Uzodimma's successor.
APC spokesman in Imo, Jones Onwuasoanya, described the lawsuits as “frivolous”, arguing that Araraume and Okorocha were pursuing personal political interests rather than genuine complaints about the primary.
He maintained that the APC primary was transparent and credible, claiming that more than 98 per cent of the party's over 200 aspirants had accepted the outcome and entered reconciliation efforts.
Onwuasoanya urged both politicians to withdraw their cases and return to the party.
“There is no dispute. The party is intact,” he said.
Ebonyi faces division over National Assembly ticket
The APC in Ebonyi State is also dealing with internal tensions arising from its National Assembly primaries.
The dispute is particularly pronounced in the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, where a court case is challenging the candidacy of Joseph Ekumankama.
Ekumankama's name replaced that of incumbent Idu Igariwey on the APC's final candidate list.
Igariwey, who has represented the constituency for 12 years, is challenging the replacement, alleging that Ekumankama did not participate in the party's primary.
A ruling is expected on September 9, 2026.
The disagreement has also highlighted divisions between Governor Francis Nwifuru and Minister of Works and former governor David Umahi.
Candidates backed by the two political camps reportedly held separate primaries and produced conflicting results in the constituency.
An APC chieftain, speaking anonymously, warned that the prolonged disagreement between the governor and minister could weaken the party's prospects 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,” the source said.
Bayelsa records relative calm
Unlike some of the affected states, the APC in Bayelsa has reported relative stability following its National and State House of Assembly primaries.
No major defection or court challenge has been reported from the state over the primaries.
The party used direct primaries under the Option A4 voting system, while zoning arrangements also influenced the emergence of candidates.
State APC Chairman Warman Ogoriba said the party had not yet constituted its campaign council. He declined to disclose the details of its strategy for handling possible post-primary issues.
“We adopted a strategy, and that strategy I will not disclose to the media,” Ogoriba said.
He noted that no major aspirant had so far defected or taken the party to court over the primaries.
Public affairs analyst Clifford Doubara attributed the relative calm partly to zoning, saying it had helped balance competing interests among communities and political groups.
He cautioned, however, that zoning should not override the rights of qualified party members to participate in primary elections.
Edo APC plays down internal tensions
In Edo State, the APC has also rejected suggestions that it is facing a serious post-primary crisis, despite disagreements surrounding the Edo South senatorial primary.
Former House of Representatives member Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama defeated incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to obtain the ticket.
The result reportedly left some supporters dissatisfied, but State APC Publicity Secretary Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie said the defeated aspirants had accepted the outcome and remained committed to the party.
He attributed the situation partly to reconciliation efforts by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“Our party has an internal conflict resolution mechanism,” Uwadiae-Igbinigie said, adding that preparations for the party's campaign team were already underway.
The ADC, however, claimed that some dissatisfied APC members were quietly moving into its ranks.
ADC spokesperson Chris Ojeikere said several APC members were holding discussions with the opposition party but were unwilling to announce their defections publicly because of fears of political retaliation.
Political analyst Christian Osato said defections alone would not determine who wins the 2027 elections.
He identified voter mobilisation, campaign strategy, polling-unit organisation and financial capacity as other important 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.
With disputes now playing out in several states, the APC's immediate challenge is to settle its internal disagreements, prevent further defections and unite its various political camps before the 2027 campaign intensifies.
Adeola Kunle
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