Crisis in party primaries foreshadows 2027 general elections

The wave of controversies trailing the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries across the country has heightened fears that the ruling party may be heading into the 2027 general elections deeply divided, amid widespread allegations of imposition, violence, manipulation and looming litigations.

The House of Representatives and Senate primaries conducted on Saturday and Monday exposed deep cracks within the party, with no fewer than 26 serving members of the House of Representatives losing return tickets under controversial circumstances.

The disqualification of serving lawmakers, including Senator Garba Musa Maidoki of Kebbi South and Senator Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East, alongside many other aspirants, has further fueled accusations of selective screening and political exclusion.

BusinessDay reports that several aspirants were also disqualified or allegedly pressured to withdraw from the contests.

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Across Rivers, Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Plateau, Kwara, Kebbi, Kano and other states, aggrieved aspirants openly rejected the outcomes, accusing influential political figures and governors of hijacking the process to install loyalists and weaken internal democracy.

In Edo State, Julius Ihonvbere, House Leader, has dismissed the results that declared him defeated, insisting the process lacked credibility. “I did not lose the election. They wrote meaningless results,” he said.

Esosa Iyawe, former Labour Party chieftain, who defected to the APC in 2024, also faulted the consensus arrangements adopted in parts of the state, arguing that party members were denied the opportunity to participate freely.

The crisis in Rivers State further highlighted the widening rift between supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and loyalists of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Party members have accused the leadership of weaponising the screening process to settle political scores ahead of 2027.

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In Ogun State, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Isiaka Ibrahim, has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of orchestrating what he described as an “affirmation process” instead of genuine primaries. “There was no primary election in my constituency,” Ibrahim alleged.

The primaries also turned violent in some states. In Plateau State, a man identified as Sani Abdullahi reportedly lost his life during clashes that erupted at the APC House of Representatives primary venue in Mangu Local Government Area.

In Ondo State, fresh tension has engulfed the APC after the disruption of senatorial and House of Representatives primaries in parts of the state.

Some aspirants have warned that the alleged imposition of candidates could cost the party victory in the 2027 general elections.

Olumuyiwa Adu, one of the aspirants for the Ondo Central Senatorial District ticket, alleged that armed thugs intimidated delegates and openly campaigned for a preferred candidate during the exercise in Akure.

“The truth is that candidates imposed by force cannot win elections in Ondo State for the APC. It is impossible. We saw young men brandishing guns and threatening voters that out of the three aspirants contesting, only one person should be voted for,” Adu said.

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Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, who represents Ondo Central and is seeking re-election, also described the exercise as “a complete charade.”

“I was at my ward in Akure South Local Government Area when armed thugs disrupted voting after it became obvious that I was leading,” he claimed.

Despite the mounting criticisms, APC leaders insisted the primaries complied with party guidelines and electoral regulations.

However, political observers warn that the growing resentment, defections and threat of litigation arising from the primaries may weaken the party’s cohesion and foreshadow a fiercely contested and turbulent 2027 general election season.