The release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) list of candidates for the 2027 general elections has reignited internal disputes within the All Progressives Congress, with grievances over party primaries triggering court cases, defections and factional disagreements in several states.
INEC on Saturday published the governorship candidates, running mates and their particulars in Form EC9. The publication effectively ended uncertainty over the candidates of the major political parties ahead of the elections.
The development has, however, exposed unresolved disagreements within the ruling APC following its governorship primaries in May and the subsequent submission of candidates to INEC.
Several aspirants who lost their party tickets have challenged the processes that produced the candidates, while others have defected to opposition parties or threatened legal action.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told The PUNCH that the party’s National Working Committee had held several meetings over the grievances.
He said reconciliation committees had been established at different levels to engage aggrieved members and urged unsuccessful aspirants to remain in the party.
“The party is taking reconciliation seriously because we have to go to the battlefield united,” Ibrahim said.
Gombe begins reconciliation
In Gombe State, Governor and APC leader Muhammadu Yahaya inaugurated a 25-member reconciliation committee to address grievances arising from recent congresses, primaries and local government elections.
The committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, was tasked with engaging aggrieved members, mediating disputes and recommending ways to reintegrate dissatisfied members.
Yahaya urged members to embrace dialogue, saying the party needed unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the APC was targeting the retention of all elective positions in the state and at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu.
Yobe primary faces court challenge
In Yobe State, aspirant Mustapha Maihaja is challenging the May 21 governorship primary that produced Baba Wali as the APC candidate.
Maihaja filed the case at the Federal High Court in Damaturu, alleging that the primary was not conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
Wali emerged with 236,711 votes. During the resumed hearing, Maihaja’s lawyer, Mustapha Ibrahim, SAN, said nine witnesses had testified over alleged irregularities.
Counsel to the respondents, Baba Dala, SAN, argued that the case remained at an early stage, noting that only nine of the 62 witnesses listed by the petitioner had testified.
The court adjourned the case until September 7, 8 and 9 for continuation.
While Maihaja has not defected from the APC, the opposition African Democratic Congress says it is prepared to challenge the ruling party in the state.
Defections shake Nasarawa APC
The APC in Nasarawa is also dealing with internal disagreements following the defection of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu to the Social Democratic Party.
Adamu, who contested the governorship primary, said he left the APC because of alleged breaches of internal democracy, fairness and transparency.
Another aspirant, Prof Mohammed Haruna, rejected the outcome that produced Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, alleging manipulation and irregularities during the exercise.
The Nasarawa APC leadership dismissed concerns over Adamu’s departure, maintaining that the party remained strong enough to win the 2027 election.
Benue dispute widens
In Benue, disputes over candidate substitutions have resulted in litigation.
House of Assembly aspirant Sesugh Kaaba asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent the APC and INEC from recognising candidates who did not emerge from the party’s primaries.
The case also seeks the recognition of candidates said to have emerged from the primaries, including Governor Hyacinth Alia, Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber and Francis Ottah Agbo.
The dispute followed disagreements between camps loyal to Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and Governor Alia.
The APC subsequently substituted several candidates, prompting further legal challenges and political movement.
Former Benue House of Assembly Majority Leader Terseer Sater has also defected from the APC to the Accord Party.
Adamawa hit by imposition allegations
In Adamawa, allegations of candidate imposition have generated another crisis.
Several candidates were reportedly adopted without primaries, including Laori Kwamoti, James Barka and Zakaria Nyampa for various federal constituencies.
APC chieftain Abubakar Gambo alleged that primaries were not conducted for the affected positions.
The controversy has been followed by defections, including that of former APC senatorial candidate Peter Fwa and Vrati Zonzo to the Labour Party.
The PDP governorship candidate, Maurice Vunobolki, also said concerns about candidate imposition influenced his decision to leave the APC for the PDP.
The APC said it was engaging aggrieved members and expected some of them to return.
Sokoto and Kebbi face defections
The APC is also contending with defections in Sokoto and Kebbi.
In Kebbi, Senator Garba Maidoki defected from the APC to the ADC after being screened out of the party’s senatorial primary. He cited grievances over alleged injustice.
The development followed the withdrawal of Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah from the Kebbi South senatorial primary after he alleged that the outcome had been predetermined.
In Sokoto, Governor Ahmed Aliyu emerged as the APC governorship candidate through a consensus arrangement.
However, House of Representatives member Isah Ambarura defected from the APC to the ADC, while reports of other members joining the opposition have raised concerns over the party’s grassroots support.
Kwara APC battles internal dissent
The APC in Kwara says it remains in control despite disagreements following its primaries and the defection of prominent members.
The party’s governorship primary produced House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as its candidate, but a group of dissatisfied aspirants and stakeholders known as the G15 rejected the result, alleging irregularities.
The dispute prompted reconciliation efforts.
The party subsequently suffered a major setback when Senator Saliu Mustapha left the APC for the PDP, where he secured the Kwara Central senatorial ticket.
The PDP has also authorised former Senate President Bukola Saraki to engage members of the G15 and other groups.
Imo tickets face litigation
In Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and former Governor Rochas Okorocha are challenging APC senatorial tickets in court.
Araraume is challenging the Imo North ticket awarded to incumbent Senator Patrick Ndubueze, while Okorocha is challenging the Imo West ticket secured by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The APC state leadership has dismissed the lawsuits as frivolous and maintained that its primaries were transparent.
The disputes come as Imo prepares for its 2028 governorship election because of the state’s off-cycle electoral calendar.
Ebonyi divided over candidate substitutions
The APC is also facing divisions in Ebonyi following its National Assembly primaries.
The dispute centres on the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, where Joseph Ekumankama’s name replaced that of incumbent lawmaker Idu Igariwey on the APC’s final candidate list.
Igariwey is challenging Ekumankama’s candidacy, alleging that he did not participate in the party’s primary.
The court is expected to rule on the matter on September 9, 2026.
The dispute has also highlighted divisions between Governor Francis Nwifuru and Works Minister David Umahi, with rival camps reportedly conducting separate primaries and announcing conflicting results.
In Bayelsa, the APC says it has avoided major post-primary disputes, with no significant defections or court challenges reported.
The party used direct primaries under the Option A4. voting system, alongside zoning arrangements.
In Edo, the APC also dismissed concerns about internal divisions following the Edo South senatorial primary, which produced former House of Representatives member Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
The party said defeated aspirants had accepted the outcome and remained committed to the APC.
However, the ADC claimed that some dissatisfied APC members were quietly discussing moves to the opposition party.
The developments across the states have increased pressure on the APC leadership to resolve post-primary disputes, retain dissatisfied members and prevent internal divisions from affecting its preparations for the 2027 elections.
