APC struggles to hold unity as primaries begin
Fresh cracks have appeared within the All Progressives Congress as its primaries get underway, with disputes over candidate selection and growing resistance to consensus arrangements testing the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The primaries, which were shifted to Saturday after an initial Friday schedule, have triggered protests, disagreements and last-minute negotiations in several states, forcing party leaders to step up efforts to prevent deeper divisions.
President Bola Tinubu has urged party members and aspirants to avoid conflict, warning that internal disputes could weaken the party’s chances. He called on winners to remain modest and those who lose to accept the outcome, stressing that the process should strengthen rather than divide the APC.
Despite this appeal, tensions have continued to rise across key states including Kano, Taraba, Kaduna, Oyo and Yobe, where attempts to adopt consensus candidates have either stalled or broken down completely. In many areas, aspirants have rejected pressure to step down, insisting on direct primaries to test their popularity.
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In Abia, party leaders moved to calm fears of imposed candidates, insisting that all aspirants would emerge through a transparent process. Similar assurances have been repeated in other states, but suspicions remain among party members who question the fairness of ongoing negotiations.
Kano has seen prolonged consultations without agreement across its constituencies, while in Taraba several aspirants have refused to withdraw, forcing the party to prepare for competitive primaries. In Yobe, last-minute meetings are ongoing after earlier attempts to settle disputes failed.
Protests have also been recorded in Oyo, where aggrieved members accused party leaders of favouring certain aspirants. The situation escalated into violence at the party secretariat, leading to damage of property, though no casualties were reported.
In Kaduna, a reconciliation committee has been set up to address complaints from sidelined aspirants, while uncertainty persists in Kwara over whether consensus or direct primaries will be adopted.
Elsewhere, efforts to enforce consensus have met resistance, with some aspirants openly rejecting endorsements and insisting on open contests. In Edo, several contenders have refused to step down despite backing from party leaders for preferred candidates.
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However, a few states such as Sokoto and Borno have recorded smoother processes, with consensus candidates emerging after negotiations. Party leaders in those states say agreements were reached without major opposition.
The APC primaries, which will continue through to the presidential primary later in May, are being closely watched as a test of the party’s internal cohesion. With disagreements still unresolved in many areas, the outcome of the exercise may shape the party’s stability going into the next election cycle.
