The All Progressives Congress is facing growing internal tensions across several states as efforts to adopt consensus candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to trigger resistance, competing interests and political realignments within the party.
While states such as Katsina, Borno and Jigawa have embraced consensus arrangements to reduce internal disputes and strengthen party unity, others including Ondo, Benue and Oyo are preparing for competitive direct primaries as aspirants push for open contests.
In states such as Yobe, Ogun, Sokoto, Plateau and Kwara, opposition to consensus arrangements has intensified, with some aspirants accusing party leaders of imposing candidates.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday submitted President Bola Tinubu’s completed expression of interest and nomination forms to the APC leadership in Abuja ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during the submission ceremony, Shettima urged Nigerians across political, religious and ethnic divides to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“On behalf of our great party, I urge all Nigerians … to support this nomination and, by the special grace of God, the candidacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda said the party’s National Executive Committee and National Working Committee had endorsed Tinubu for a second term, citing the administration’s reforms and development initiatives.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Bashiru said the party had adopted direct primaries for the presidential ticket and that any interested aspirant could contest against Tinubu.
The APC began the sale of nomination forms on April 28, with screening scheduled from May 7 to May 12. The party approved both consensus and direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2025.
According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Jan. 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for Feb. 6, 2027.
In Katsina State, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda defended the adoption of consensus primaries, saying stakeholders agreed on the arrangement to preserve unity within the party.
“We all agreed that we are going to adopt consensus so that we continue with the party’s strength and cohesion,” Radda said after submitting his nomination forms in Abuja.
In Borno State, APC stakeholders adopted a consensus arrangement to present former Commissioner of Works, Mustapha Gubio, as the party’s governorship candidate after Senator Kakashehu Lawan stepped down from the race.
Similarly, APC stakeholders in Jigawa adopted consensus for senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly elections, although some supporters of unsuccessful aspirants expressed dissatisfaction on social media.
In Zamfara State, however, resistance has emerged over attempts to impose consensus candidates for legislative positions.
Former governor Abdul Aziz Yari said the party would adopt direct primaries where consensus fails.
“We will never agree on the imposition of candidates,” APC stalwart Dr. Sani Shinkafi said.
In Ogun State, the APC leadership adopted consensus arrangements for several positions, but tensions remain high over senatorial contests, particularly in Ogun East, where former governor Gbenga Daniel and Governor Dapo Abiodun are both linked to the ticket.
Daniel alleged he was excluded from a stakeholders’ meeting where Abiodun was endorsed as consensus candidate.
In Yobe State, divisions deepened after stakeholders endorsed former Secretary to the State Government Baba Wali as consensus governorship candidate.
Senator Ibrahim Bomai rejected the endorsement, describing it as contrary to democratic principles and internal party democracy.
Other aspirants, including Musa Tumsah and former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali, are also pushing for direct primaries.
In Kano State, youth groups opposed plans to allocate the Kano Central senatorial ticket to former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, insisting party loyalists should be rewarded.
In Oyo State, several governorship aspirants, including former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, are insisting on direct primaries despite discussions around consensus arrangements.
The APC in Ondo State also appears headed for direct primaries after most aspirants obtained nomination forms and failed to agree on consensus candidates.
In Benue State, APC Chairman Benjamin Omale said the party would adopt direct primaries, while disagreements continued over automatic tickets for some candidates.
In Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje rejected the consensus arrangement that produced Mohammed Ahmed as a preferred candidate.
Former ministers Isa Pantami and Saidu Alkali also vowed to challenge the process that produced Jamilu Gwamna as consensus governorship candidate.
APC spokesperson in Gombe, Moses Kyari, defended the process, saying consensus remained a recognised method under the party constitution but clarified that aspirants who reject it could still participate in direct primaries.
In Kwara and Plateau states, party leaders said consultations were still ongoing and that both consensus and direct primaries remained possible options depending on agreements among stakeholders.
