2027: Intrigues, tension as APC begins primaries Saturday

Fresh intrigues and rising tension have gripped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party begins its primaries today ahead of the 2027 general elections, with protests, failed consensus talks and allegations of candidate imposition threatening internal cohesion across several states.

The primaries, initially scheduled to commence on Friday with the House of Representatives contests, were shifted to Saturday late Friday night amid intensified consultations by party leaders seeking to avert widespread disputes.

The growing crisis has unsettled key stakeholders loyal to President Bola Tinubu, prompting renewed reconciliation efforts in states including Kano, Taraba, Kaduna, Oyo, Edo, Yobe, Abia and Kwara.

In a statement issued ahead of the exercise, Tinubu urged aspirants and party members to embrace sportsmanship and avoid “do-or-die politics,” warning that internal rancour could strengthen the opposition ahead of the elections.

“In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship,” the President said.

Despite the appeals, our correspondent gathered that consensus arrangements collapsed in several states as aspirants resisted pressure to step down for preferred candidates.

In Kano and Taraba, negotiations remained deadlocked in multiple constituencies, forcing the party to prepare for direct primaries.

In Abia, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu dismissed reports of automatic tickets, insisting that all aspirants would emerge through transparent processes.

Similarly, tensions escalated in Oyo where angry party members protested alleged attempts to impose candidates, while in Edo several aspirants rejected pressure to withdraw for preferred contenders.

However, Sokoto and Borno states recorded smoother negotiations, with party leaders successfully adopting consensus arrangements in most constituencies.

today’s House of Representatives primaries is expected to throw up candidates that would contest the 2027 election on the platform of the APC.

BusinessDay reports that the party has fixed May 23 for presidential primary, May 21 and 20 for governorship and state assemblies while May 18 , 2026, has been slated for senatorial primaries.