Signs of internal disquiet have continued to trouble Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, ahead of the 2027 general elections, with disputes over consensus candidacies, allegations of manipulation and increasing defections emerging across several states.
A member of the House of Representatives from Katsina State, Abubakar Yahaya Kusada, on Monday described recent defections from the APC in the state as worrisome.
Kusada, who represents Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency, reacted to the reported defection of fellow lawmaker Sani Lawal, who allegedly left the APC after failing to secure a consensus ticket for the 2027 elections.
Before Lawal’s exit, another Katsina lawmaker, Shehu Tafoki, had also defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Kusada warned that the growing wave of defections could weaken the APC’s electoral prospects in 2027 and urged the Presidency and party stakeholders to intervene urgently.
“It’s not only about what happened in my constituency, but the whole process is biased towards favouring some individuals who have a silver spoon in this government,” he said.
Kusada, who said he would remain in the APC despite losing out in the consensus arrangement, warned that failure to address grievances among party members could prove costly.
“If this goes unchecked, the end result will be disastrous for the party,” he added.
The lawmaker was replaced in the consensus arrangement by Mustapha Kanti Bello, son of the late Senator Kanti Bello.
Meanwhile, some APC members in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a peaceful protest over the alleged refusal of party leaders to issue them membership cards despite completing registration.
The protesters also accused party leaders of plotting to impose candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Give Us Our Membership Cards” and “We Don’t Want Imposition,” the protesters gathered at the APC secretariat in Ijaye, Abeokuta.
One of the demonstrators, Adesanya Akinbode, demanded immediate access to the membership cards, saying party loyalists deserved full participation in the APC’s internal democratic process.
Another protester, Idowu Rodiat, alleged that some party leaders were attempting to impose candidates against the wishes of members.
Responding to the allegations, APC Publicity Secretary in Ogun State, Nuerudeen Olufemi, denied claims that members were being denied membership cards.
According to him, registered members could print their cards online, while ward officials had been assigned to assist them.
In Rivers State, former House of Representatives member Bernard Mikko warned the APC against sidelining Governor Siminalayi Fubara ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Mikko cautioned the party against repeating what he described as the political scenario that denied former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode a second-term ticket in 2019.
“If APC stops Fubara, the grassroots people of Rivers will support an alternative party and candidate,” he said.
Mikko also criticised political godfatherism and candidate imposition, warning that Rivers voters would resist attempts to dictate political choices ahead of the next election.
He contrasted Fubara’s quiet political style with the media visibility of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“Politics is about visibility and engagement. Wike is actively pushing his narrative in the media, while Fubara is not explaining his side of the story,” he said.
In Oyo State, APC Chairman Moses Alake Adeyemo assured members and aspirants that the party would conduct free, fair and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adeyemo said the party initially explored a consensus arrangement but indications showed that direct primaries would be adopted in some cases, including the governorship ticket.
“We set machinery in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board, but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option, which is direct primaries,” he said.
Similarly, Chairman of the APC National Assembly Screening Committee, Farouk Aliyu, said the consensus arrangement would not prevent aspirants from contesting for elective positions.
“The idea of a consensus candidate does not preclude anyone else from running,” he said, adding that the APC constitution provides for direct primaries where consensus cannot be achieved.
Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda urged aspirants seeking elective offices on the party’s platform to conduct themselves peacefully ahead of the 2027 primaries.
Yilwatda warned that the APC would not tolerate violence, anti-party activities or attempts to undermine the primary process.
“In every democratic contest, only one person will eventually emerge victorious,” he said. “What is important is the spirit with which the process is approached.”
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and stabilising the ruling party.
