APC boils as internal rebellion trails screening results ahead of primaries

…Hundreds of aspirants disqualified; 30 petitions received in Benue, 19 in Rivers

….Defections, protests rock Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, others

…Shettima’s consensus push fails in Yobe; actors scheming in Kwara, Bauchi

…Governorship aspirants revolt in Oyo

Fresh cracks have emerged within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across several states following the conclusion of the screening of aspirants for the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 polls with disqualifications, protests, defections and threats of litigations threatening the party.

The growing discontent has heightened fears of internal rebellion as many aspirants and their supporters accused party leaders of manipulating consensus arrangements and screening outcomes to favour preferred aspirants.

Prominent politicians were edged out during the screening exercise, worsening tensions in several states where party loyalists have openly rejected the outcomes of the process.

The controversies have already triggered protests and defections in some states, while aggrieved aspirants in others are reportedly considering legal action.

Some of the aspirants said their decision to defect was aimed at meeting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for the conduct of party primaries. Recall that INEC had directed all political parties to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The commission also scheduled the commencement of campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections for August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections are to begin on September 9, 2026.

Presidential and National Assembly elections have been fixed for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

According to the APC’s 2027 election timetable, the House of Representatives primaries will kick off on Friday, with only cleared aspirants eligible to participate. The party also scheduled governorship primaries for May 21, senatorial and state assembly primaries for May 18 and 20, while the presidential primary is slated for May 23, 2026.

Political analysts have warned that unless the APC leadership urgently reconciles dissatisfied members, the crisis could weaken grassroots mobilisation, encourage anti-party activities and create opportunities for opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Cracks within the APC in Katsina State appear to be widening as complaints over alleged imposition, consensus arrangements and defections continue to unsettle party loyalists.

What initially started as quiet grievances among aggrieved aspirants has now snowballed into open expressions of dissatisfaction by some influential party figures, raising fears that the internal disagreements could weaken the party’s dominance in the state.

Abubakar Yahaya Kusada, member representing Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, openly lamented the growing wave of defections and warned that the APC risks losing political grounds if urgent reconciliation efforts are not initiated.

Kusada’s reaction followed reports that Sani Lawal, member representing Zango/Baure Federal Constituency, had dumped the APC.

In a message obtained by BusinessDay, Kusada said, “Hon. Sani Lawal, member representing Zango/Baure Federal Constituency, has woken me from my sleep with the news of his decamping from our great party, the APC, to a yet-to-be-disclosed political party.”

Kusada is also believed to be among those affected by recent political calculations within the APC after he was reportedly replaced in a consensus arrangement that produced Mustapha Kanti Bello as the preferred candidate for the constituency.

In neighbouring Jigawa State, Isah Idris, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, resigned from the APC and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after reportedly being disqualified from the contest.

Shettima’s consensus push fails in Yobe

Fresh tension is brewing in the Yobe State chapter of the APC after the G-6 governorship aspirants met with Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the May 21, 2026 governorship primary.

The meeting was aimed at resolving disagreements between the aspirants and the party’s preferred candidate, Baba Mallam Wali. However, in a statement issued after the meeting, the group insisted on participating in the primary election and demanded a free, fair and credible process.

One of the members, Lawan Kolo Geidam, has, however, withdrawn from the race but declined to endorse Baba Wali, pledging instead to support whoever emerges as the APC candidate.

The development has reduced the group to G-5, amid growing anxiety among party members over the lingering political impasse despite Governor Mai Mala Buni’s appeal for calm.

The APC has suffered fresh setbacks following the defection of former National Youth Leader, Sadiq Abubakar, and House of Representatives member, Abdullahi El-Rasheed, over alleged injustice in the party’s consensus arrangements ahead of the 2027 primaries.

Abubakar accused the APC leadership of promoting unfair internal processes and using incumbency power to impose candidates, saying the party had abandoned fairness and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. He said he would soon unveil his new political platform.

Similarly, El-Rasheed, popularly known as Bala Kelly, dumped the APC after losing the consensus ticket for the Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency in Gombe State. In his resignation, the lawmaker cited lack of justice and fair play, while urging supporters to remain calm ahead of his next political move.

In Benue State, the APC has received about 30 petitions from aggrieved aspirants challenging the outcome of the screening exercise. More than 59 aspirants were disqualified from participating in the party’s primaries for the 2027 Benue State House of Assembly elections.

BusinessDay gathered that 146 aspirants were screened by the party’s House of Assembly Screening Committee, while only 86 were cleared to participate in the primaries or emerge through consensus arrangements.

Auwalu Ishiye, chairman of the screening committee, and Tijani Abdullahi, secretary of the committee, said the affected aspirants failed to comply with provisions of the party’s guidelines and constitution.

James Ornguga, Benue APC Organising Secretary, disclosed that an appeal committee had already commenced sitting on petitions submitted by dissatisfied aspirants.

The development has generated anxiety among party members, with fears that unresolved disputes may affect the APC’s chances in parts of the state during the elections.

19 petitions in Rivers; disagreements in Kaduna