What began as a routine scheduling of primaries in Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has quickly morphed into a full-blown internal crisis, exposing deep divisions over candidate selection, party democracy, and the limits of consensus politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) was forced this week to postpone its House of Representatives primary election by one day to Saturday, May 16, after widespread resistance from aspirants and state-level stakeholders who rejected the leadership’s attempt to impose consensus candidates across constituencies.
The announcement, made by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, confirmed a sudden shift in strategy: the party would now proceed with direct primaries in constituencies where consensus arrangements failed to hold.
“Previously announced primary election dates for the Senate, State Houses of Assembly, Governorship and Presidential primaries remain unchanged,” Morka said, while unveiling a revised timetable stretching from May 16 to May 23 for various levels of primaries.
But beneath the administrative adjustment lies a deeper political struggle, one that has seen aspirants across multiple states openly resist what they describe as “imposed consensus” and “selection disguised as unity.”
Consensus strategy backfires
The APC leadership had initially pushed consensus as a stabilising mechanism to reduce internal conflict and streamline candidate emergence. However, that strategy quickly encountered resistance, particularly from aspirants who felt sidelined by what they viewed as elite-driven decisions.
Party insiders say the backlash was swift and widespread, forcing the NWC to reverse course and distribute electoral materials for direct primaries across all 360 federal constituencies.
A senior party source admitted the scale of opposition made consensus “untenable in many areas,” noting that aspirants “prefer to test their popularity through elections rather than step down for pre-selected candidates.”
That shift effectively signalled a retreat from a centralised approach and a reluctant return to competitive primaries in several constituencies.
Flashpoints across the country
The revolt against consensus has played out differently across Nigeria’s political landscape, but the message has been largely consistent: aspirants want internal democracy, not imposition.
In Oyo State, tensions erupted publicly when supporters of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu protested at the APC secretariat in Ibadan over the endorsement of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as consensus governorship candidate.
“The imposition denies others a fair opportunity. We demand transparency and direct primaries,” one protester said, capturing a sentiment echoed in several other states.
In Ondo State’s Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo and Odigbo Federal Constituency, controversy surrounded reports that Hon. Mathew Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, was being positioned for the House of Representatives seat after a failed senatorial bid. Critics dismissed the move as political compensation rather than genuine consensus.
In the North, resistance has been equally intense. Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, reportedly vowed to challenge consensus arrangements in Gombe State. Former Inspectors-General of Police Abubakar Mohammed Adamu and Usman Alkali Baba, both aspirants in Nasarawa and Yobe States respectively, have also pushed for competitive primaries rather than endorsement deals.
The pattern reflects a broader concern among aspirants: that consensus is being used selectively to favour certain candidates under the guise of party unity.
Adamawa: “Stop imposition, conduct primaries”
One of the most vocal pushbacks came from Adamawa State, where over 78 House of Representatives aspirants openly rejected consensus arrangements and demanded direct primaries across constituencies.
Speaking in Yola through their spokesman Vrati Nzonzo, the forum urged the party to adhere strictly to the Electoral Act and APC constitution.
“Since consensus has failed across the eight federal constituencies of Adamawa State, we call for free, fair and credible primaries across all wards,” he said.
The group also raised concerns over alleged “orders from above” forcing aspirants to step down, claiming that some party executives had invoked the influence of senior political figures, including the state governor and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
“There are claims of a ‘Presidential List’ of favoured candidates,” Nzonzo alleged, warning that such interference could undermine the party’s electoral prospects.
One aspirant, Peter Fwa, later withdrew from the race entirely, citing what he described as imposition attempts by state party leadership.
Ogun: consensus endorsement rejected
A similar crisis unfolded in Ogun State, where four senatorial aspirants for the Ogun Central district rejected the endorsement of Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu as consensus candidate.
Governor Dapo Abiodun had announced Salisu’s endorsement at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta attended by top party figures, including the deputy governor, speaker of the state assembly, and other senior officials.
But former senators Lanre Tejuoso and Olugbenga Obadara, alongside two other aspirants, swiftly dismissed the decision.
“It is against morality and against our discussion at the last meeting,” Obadara said, insisting that party members – not leaders – should choose candidates.
Tejuoso described the endorsement as unacceptable, while Sofela argued that democracy demands participation rather than selection.
“If the people are saying no, what more evidence do you want?” he asked.
The controversy deepened amid reports of failed consensus meetings involving party elders, including one convened at the residence of former Governor Olusegun Osoba, which allegedly ended without agreement.
Former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who is also linked to the senatorial race, denied allegations that he pressured other aspirants to withdraw, insisting he would not support predetermined outcomes.
Leadership caught between unity and democracy
At the national level, the APC leadership now finds itself balancing two competing pressures: the need to maintain internal cohesion and the equally strong demand for democratic participation within the party.
While consensus was intended to reduce factional battles and costly primaries, it has instead triggered accusations of elite imposition, fueling mistrust across several states.
Party officials now privately concede that the backlash forced a strategic retreat.
“The reality on the ground is that many aspirants are not ready to step down,” a senior APC official said. “So we had to return to direct primaries where consensus fails.”