Implosion brews in APC as stakeholders battle for control

…Party bigwigs fight dirty in states

…Governors tighten grip on tickets for loyalists

…Aspirants protest, weigh legal option

Fresh cracks are widening within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party inches towards its 2027 primaries, with intense power struggles breaking out across several States.

The influx of high-profile defectors inclusing governors, lawmakers, and former officeholders, particularly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has altered internal dynamics, triggering fierce contests for control of party structures.

In many States, longstanding members are now locked in bitter rivalries with new entrants, while in others, entrenched blocs are battling among themselves over who determines candidates for the 2027 elections.

Despite the growing tension, the party insists it is prepared. Bala Ibrahim, the APC National Director of Publicity, told BusinessDay that mechanisms are in place to manage disputes and preserve unity.

BusinessDay reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, in December, set up a Reconciliation Committee headed by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to address festering divisions. At the State level, the fault lines are becoming more visible.

In Ogun State, a rivalry between former Governor and Ogun East Senator, Gbenga Daniel, and Governor Dapo Abiodun escalated last week when Daniel was denied entry to a caucus meeting in Ijebu Ode.

The incident, captured in a viral video, underscored deepening divisions, especially after party leaders went ahead to endorse Abiodun as consensus candidate for the Ogun East Senatorial seat.

For Ogun Central Senatorial District, where the former Governor Ibikunle Amosun has declared intention to run for the Senatorial ticket, the incumbent Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu and other Aspirants like Gbenga Obadara, Muraina Banjoko, Yemi Oke, among others are currently raising voices against possible imposition of either incumbent Senator Salisu or ex-Governor Amosun as majority of the aspirants are asking for real primary election instead of consensus candidate.

Former Governor Amosun, a two-term Senator through a statement issued by his media team in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital on Sunday, having been earlier reported that he had asked three other aspirants to step down for him at a meeting held at Olusegun Osoba, Ogun State APC leader’s residence.

Amosun debunked the statement, saying: “What I said at the meeting, which I reiterate is that I would not be part of a primary election whose result is predetermined.”

In Adamawa, a high-stake battle is unfolding between Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu over, who shapes the State’s political succession.

What began as a strategic realignment has evolved into a contest for dominance of party structures, with both camps mobilising loyalists and positioning for control ahead of the primaries.

Benue presents a similar picture. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Governor Hyacinth Alia are locked in a struggle over party control, resources, and the 2027 ticket.

Stakeholders warn that attempts to sideline the governor could provoke unrest, given his grassroots support and perceived performance in office.

Beyond these flashpoints, a broader pattern is emerging. Investigation revealed a coordinated push by governors, especially recent defectors, to shape outcomes ahead of the primaries by influencing the National Working Committee (NWC).

Multiple insiders say lobbying efforts have intensified, with powerful actors seeking to secure tickets for loyalists across governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly contests.

A member of the NWC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed mounting pressure on the party’s leadership.

“Yes, we are under pressure, not just from governors but from other influential stakeholders. But we are determined to do the right thing,” he said.

Sources say the strategy includes aligning the party’s administrative machinery with political interests at the state level. Control of the NWC, responsible for guidelines, screening, and dispute resolution, is seen as critical to shaping primary outcomes.

“The thinking is simple: secure the referees before the game begins,” a senior party source noted.

Lists of preferred aspirants are reportedly being circulated quietly among key figures in Abuja, aided in part by the party’s leaning towards consensus arrangements rather than direct primaries.

In some instances, negotiations are said to include agreements on delegate composition and zoning to favour specific candidates.

However, the development is fuelling anxiety among aspirants lacking gubernatorial backing. Many fear the process could be skewed long before voting begins, raising the spectre of post-primary disputes and litigations.

Some actors in the APC told BusinessDay in confidence that they would dump the party if the system is filled with irregularities ahead of 2027.

“There is a real concern that the system may be compromised,” a senatorial aspirant said. “If people feel unfairly excluded, it could lead to serious legal battles,” he added.

Another Governorship aspirant in the North Central Region told BusinessDay that pressure is already being mounted on aspirants to step down for preferred candidates, stressing that he would sue the party if he is treated unfairly.

BusinessDay reports that the APC has ruled out granting automatic tickets to federal lawmakers, including recent defectors to the party, a move that is already fueling fresh tensions within its ranks.

The decision has unsettled several of the affected lawmakers, some of whom told our correspondent that assurances of automatic tickets were part of the negotiations that facilitated their defection.

They warned that the reversal could trigger internal disputes, with some considering their next political steps if the party fails to honour what they describe as prior commitments.

While party officials maintain that consultations are a legitimate part of internal politics, they insist that rules will be enforced to guarantee credible primaries.

Aminu Bello Masari, former Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the 2026 APC National Convention Central Coordination Committee, has warned the newly elected NWC against undue influence, stressing that the integrity of the process must not be compromised.

Sequel to this, Felix Morka, APC National Publicity Secretary, has assured members of the party’s commitment to free, fair, and credible primaries.

The APC has unveiled a revised timetable for its 2027 general election primaries, fixing May 23, 2026, for its presidential primary.

Under the new schedule, Governorship primaries will hold on May 21, while elections for other offices are staggered earlier in the month. The House of Representatives Primaries are set for May 15, 2026 Senate for May 18, 2026 and State Houses of Assembly for May 20, 2026.

Yet, as alignments harden and ambitions collide, the battle for control within the APC appears set to intensify, raising questions about whether the ruling party can manage its internal dynamics ahead of the 2027 contest.