Petitions, protests and allegations of candidate imposition have continued to trail the ongoing screening of aspirants by the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, exposing growing cracks within the party across several states.
The controversy has spread across states including Taraba, Kano, Jigawa, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Rivers, Plateau, Abia, Gombe and Zamfara, as aggrieved aspirants and their supporters challenge the outcome of the screening exercises and consensus arrangements adopted by the party.
The screening exercise is part of the APC’s nationwide process aimed at reducing the number of aspirants ahead of the primaries. However, the process has generated widespread tension, with several aspirants threatening petitions, protests and possible legal action.
In Taraba State, the endorsement of some incumbent lawmakers sparked outrage among party members and youth groups, especially in Taraba North Senatorial District, where Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau’s endorsement was rejected by stakeholders.
A stakeholder from Karim Lamido Local Government Area, Paul Penuel, described the senator’s tenure as a failure, insisting there was little to show for his years in office.
Another constituent, Dickson Kwinde, warned that imposing unpopular candidates could alienate voters and damage the party’s chances in the election.
Youth groups in the area also rejected the endorsement, arguing that the senator had not delivered meaningful development to the constituency.
Party insiders disclosed that some aspirants had already begun preparing petitions against the screening outcome, alleging irregularities, manipulation and attempts to impose consensus candidates without broad consultation.
In Kano State, several aspirants seeking Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly tickets were screened out despite earlier reconciliation efforts within the party.
Some aspirants later stepped down for former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau following a high-level meeting aimed at restoring unity, but the move still generated backlash among party loyalists who argued that long-standing members were being sidelined.
A group known as the Coalition for Better Kano criticised the arrangement, saying loyalty and commitment to the party should not be ignored for political convenience.
Efforts by Governor Abba Yusuf to reconcile aggrieved members reportedly suffered setbacks after some stakeholders boycotted meetings organised to calm tensions within the party.
In Jigawa State, the fallout from the screening exercise led to resignations and defections. Former Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Isah Idris, resigned from the APC after being disqualified and replaced by another aspirant.
In his resignation letter, Idris lamented what he described as the party’s departure from its founding principles before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Other prominent politicians in the state were also reportedly edged out during the exercise, heightening fears of deeper divisions within the party.
In Benue State, supporters of disqualified aspirants accused the APC of violating zoning arrangements and excluding certain communities from representation.
Some stakeholders warned that failure to address the grievances could hurt the party during the elections.
Kogi State also witnessed protests and accusations of authoritarianism following claims that nomination forms were selectively distributed to preferred aspirants under what critics described as a “Commando arrangement.”
Party members alleged that aspirants with strong grassroots support were deliberately sidelined, raising fears of mass defections and internal crisis.
In Anambra State, the APC expelled 30 members, including aspirants for Senate and House of Representatives seats, over lawsuits filed against the party.
The state leadership insisted the action was in line with the party constitution, adding that affected members could only be reconsidered if they withdrew their court cases.
In Kaduna State, controversy erupted over moves to impose consensus candidates for National Assembly positions, particularly in Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
Some aspirants and stakeholders openly rejected the arrangement, warning against attempts to force candidates on party members through backdoor agreements.
In Ebonyi State, an aspirant for the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District seat, Chief Christian Nwali, resigned from the APC after losing out in the consensus arrangement adopted by the party.
Nwali described his resignation as immediate and withdrew from all party activities.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the APC disclosed that no fewer than 65 aspirants were disqualified during the screening exercise for the State House of Assembly elections, while 33 were cleared.
Chairman of the Screening Appeal Committee, Dr Abdul Mahmud, confirmed that the panel had already received multiple petitions from aggrieved aspirants challenging their disqualification.
Mahmud noted that many aspirants complained that they only discovered they had been disqualified through social media rather than official communication from the party.
He advised the APC to improve communication with aspirants in future exercises to avoid unnecessary tension and confusion.
In Plateau State, concerns are also mounting after reports emerged that several aspirants were screened out ahead of the official release of results.
Some aspirants accused the screening panels of irregularities and lack of transparency, while others disclosed plans to challenge their exclusion through petitions.
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Party insiders warned that unresolved grievances could reopen old factional battles within the Plateau APC.
Elsewhere, the APC in Imo State said the final list of cleared aspirants would be released officially after the conclusion of the screening process.
In Abia State, party officials acknowledged that disagreements might follow the release of the screening results but maintained that the APC remained committed to direct primaries where consensus arrangements fail.
Gombe State officials also confirmed that the screening exercise was still ongoing, while the Zamfara APC disclosed that over 100 aspirants had purchased forms for just 22 State Assembly seats.
Across several states, reconciliation efforts are ongoing as party leaders attempt to prevent defections, anti-party activities and legal disputes ahead of the primaries.
Political observers say the growing wave of protests, petitions and disputes highlights the difficult balance between party control and internal democracy within the APC as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
