The release of the 2027 governorship candidates’ list by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has heightened internal disputes within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as aggrieved aspirants challenge primary outcomes across several states.
INEC on Saturday published the list of governorship candidates and their running mates in Form EC9, ending uncertainty over the candidates of major political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, several APC members have rejected the outcomes of the party’s May primaries, with some pursuing legal action while others have defected to opposition parties. The APC leadership says it has commenced reconciliation efforts to resolve the grievances and maintain unity ahead of the elections.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said reconciliation committees had been established at various levels to engage aggrieved members and encourage them to remain in the party.
In Gombe, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya inaugurated a 25-member reconciliation committee to address grievances arising from recent party activities. He urged aggrieved members to embrace dialogue and work for the unity of the party.
In Yobe, aspirant Mustapha Maihaja is challenging the emergence of Alhaji Baba Wali as the APC governorship candidate, alleging that the May 21 primary violated the party’s guidelines. The case is before the Federal High Court in Damaturu.
The crisis has also deepened in Nasarawa, where former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu defected from the APC to the Social Democratic Party after rejecting the governorship primary. Another aspirant, Professor Mohammed Haruna, also alleged irregularities in the exercise.
In Benue, disputes over the substitution of candidates have resulted in a court case seeking to stop INEC and the APC from recognising candidates who allegedly did not win the party’s primaries.
Similar disagreements have been reported in Adamawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Imo and Ebonyi, involving allegations of candidate imposition, defections, litigation and disputes over the conduct of primaries.
Despite the challenges, the APC maintains that reconciliation efforts are ongoing, with party officials expressing confidence that the disputes can be resolved before the 2027 elections.
The growing internal disagreements, however, could test the APC’s ability to present a united front as preparations for the 2027 polls intensify.
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