APC post-primary crisis: INEC list reignites old wounds ahead of 2027

By: Abudu Olalekan

The ruling All Progressives Congress thought it had managed to keep its post-primary grievances under wraps. Then INEC published the candidate list.

On Saturday, the electoral body pasted Form EC9 at its offices across the states. That simple act ended months of speculation over who would fly the party’s flags in 2027. And just like that, all the unresolved anger from the primaries came rushing back.

Let’s be honest. The APC primaries in May left a trail of bruised egos, court cases, and defections. Some aspirants went to court. Others packed their bags and joined rival parties. A few are still weighing their options. The party leadership says reconciliation is ongoing. But across several states, the cracks are still wide open.

APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told Reportersroom the National Working Committee has held several meetings on the matter. He admitted the party must sort itself out before facing voters.

“The party is taking reconciliation seriously because we have to go to the battlefield united,” Ibrahim said. “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.”

Nice words. But on the ground, the story is different.

Gombe tries the soft landing

Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya has set up a 25-member reconciliation committee. Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau chairs it. The governor’s message was simple: sheath your swords, embrace dialogue, and let’s keep this house together.

He wants at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027. And he knows that won’t happen if party members are still sulking.

“Some decisions and outcomes arising from these political processes may not have gone down well with some of our members, particularly those who aspired for elective offices but were unsuccessful,” Yahaya admitted.

The committee has been told to identify grievances, mediate between contending groups, and recommend how to bring aggrieved members back into the fold.

Yobe: a court fight that won’t go away

Yobe’s APC primary produced Alhaji Baba Wali as governorship candidate with 236,711 votes. But aspirant Mustapha Maihaja isn’t accepting that result. He’s at the Federal High Court in Damaturu, arguing the exercise didn’t follow party guidelines.

His counsel, Mustapha Ibrahim, SAN, said nine witnesses have already testified about alleged irregularities. The case resumes on September 7, 8 and 9.

Maihaja hasn’t left the party. Not yet. But the opposition ADC is already smelling blood. Its state chairman, Umar Kalli Alhaji, declared the party “ever ready to challenge the APC” and predicted victory.

Analyst Abdulwahab Garba still thinks the APC will retain power. He doesn’t see the opposition as strong enough to dislodge the ruling party. But the longer the court case drags, the messier it gets.

Nasarawa: defections and accusations

In Nasarawa, former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has dumped the APC for the SDP. He cited breaches of internal democracy and transparency after losing the governorship primary.

Prof. Mohammed Haruna, another aspirant, also rejected the exercise outright. He called it manipulated in favour of Ahmed Aliyu Wadada. Haruna claimed partisan electoral officers were deployed, materials went missing in some wards, and voters were intimidated.

The state APC chairman, Aliyu Bello, shrugged it off. He said Adamu’s exit won’t hurt the party.

“Brooms can be burnt, but the achievements and impacts of our party in the state and the ideology behind the broom cannot be burnt,” he said.

Benue: Akume vs Alia spills into court

Benue is on fire, politically speaking. The battle between Governor Hyacinth Alia and SGF George Akume has produced lawsuits.

House of Assembly aspirant Sesugh Kaaba has filed suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026 before Justice Inyang Ekwo. He wants INEC and APC restrained from recognising candidates who didn’t win primaries. The suit specifically lists Governor Alia, Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber, and Francis Ottah Agbo as people whose primary victories should be respected.

After Akume’s loyalists complained, the party’s national leadership replaced several Alia-backed candidates. Suswam’s name was swapped for Senator Emmanuel Udende. Aber Terseer was replaced by Senator Titus Zam. Six other House of Reps candidates were also substituted.

Former Benue Assembly Majority Leader Terseer Sater has already left for the Accord Party. The party’s bigwigs are not talking.

Adamawa: allegations of imposition

In Adamawa, the crisis is about candidates allegedly imposed without primaries. Names like Laori Kwamoti, James Barka, and Zakaria Nyampa were simply adopted, according to aggrieved members.

APC chieftain Abubakar Gambo said no primaries were conducted for those positions. Members were just presented with candidates and told to accept them.

That has pushed some people out. Former APC senatorial candidate Peter Fwa and Vrati Zonzo left for Labour Party. Maurice Vunobolki, now PDP’s governorship candidate, said he left APC because he couldn’t stomach another imposition.

APC Publicity Secretary Dogo Victor said the party is engaging aggrieved members and seeing “positive results.” He didn’t say who was coming back.

Sokoto and Kebbi: quiet exits

Kebbi South Senator Garba Maidoki has moved to ADC after being screened out of the APC senatorial primary. He said it was about injustice. His exit followed Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah’s withdrawal from the same primary, claiming the outcome was predetermined.

In Sokoto, Governor Ahmed Aliyu emerged as consensus candidate smoothly. But House of Reps member Isah Ambarura has defected to ADC. Reports of hundreds of APC members in Goronyo joining ADC haven’t helped morale.

Kwara: the G15 headache

Kwara APC’s Deputy Chairman Abdullahi Samari admits it’s a tough time. But he’s confident the party will win in 2027.

The primary that produced Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as governorship candidate angered a group known as the G15. They rejected the result. Senator Saliu Mustapha then resigned and secured the PDP’s Kwara Central senatorial ticket. That’s a direct challenge to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who wants that same seat after leaving office.

The PDP has authorised former Senate President Bukola Saraki to engage the G15 and other aggrieved groups. Analyst Abdulrasaq Olanrewaju warned that if APC members keep defecting, the PDP might have a brighter road to victory.

Imo: lawsuits from old rivals

In Imo, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha are back in court. Araraume is challenging the Imo North senatorial ticket given to Patrick Ndubueze. Okorocha is fighting Governor Hope Uzodimma’s hold on the Imo West ticket.

The state APC spokesman, Jones Onwuasoanya, called the suits “frivolous.” He said over 98% of aspirants accepted the primary outcomes. He wants Araraume and Okorocha to withdraw their cases and come back home.

But these are not small players. Their legal battles won’t end quietly.

Ebonyi: a divided house

Ebonyi is struggling with the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency dispute. Joseph Ekumankama’s candidacy is being challenged by Idu Igariwey, who represented the area for 12 years. Igariwey says Ekumankama never participated in any primary. The court will rule on September 9, 2026.

Behind the scenes, it’s really a fight between Governor Francis Nwifuru and Minister of Works David Umahi. Candidates backed by both camps held separate primaries and announced different winners. A party chieftain warned that this lingering quarrel could cost the APC in 2027.

Bayelsa and Edo: calm for now

Bayelsa’s APC has avoided major fallout. The party used direct primaries with Option A4 and zoning arrangements that seemed to satisfy most people. State chairman Warman Ogoriba said no major aspirant has defected or gone to court. He also refused to disclose their reconciliation strategy, which is probably smart.

Edo had some tension after Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama beat incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the Edo South ticket. But APC spokesman Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie insists everyone has accepted the outcome. The ADC disagrees, claiming aggrieved APC members are quietly joining their party but afraid of political retaliation.

Analyst Christian Osato summed it up well: defections don’t decide elections. Voter mobilisation, campaign strategy, polling-unit organisation, and money do.

The APC still has time. But the 2027 race is no longer a coronation. It’s a contest. And the party’s internal wounds are not healing as fast as the leadership wants.