Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress ahead of its governorship primaries scheduled for Thursday, as several aspirants in at least 10 states have resisted consensus arrangements and insisted on contesting for the party’s ticket.
The development comes despite sustained efforts by party leaders and governors in many states to avoid rancorous primaries by endorsing preferred candidates and encouraging aspirants to step down ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Findings showed that while some incumbent governors in APC-controlled states have successfully secured automatic backing for second-term tickets, succession contests in states such as Kwara State, Oyo State, Gombe State, Adamawa State, Bauchi State, Plateau State, Lagos State, Nasarawa State, Rivers State and Yobe State remain highly competitive.
The ruling party is expected to hold governorship primaries in 28 states on May 21, with direct primaries to be adopted in states where consensus agreements fail. Appeals from the exercise are scheduled for May 24.
Consensus Gains Ground in Some States
In several states, consensus arrangements have already taken hold, with no fewer than 11 governors and sole aspirants receiving overwhelming support from party structures.
Among those who reportedly secured consensus backing are Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Abba Yusuf of Kano, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Dikko Radda of Kebbi and several other incumbents seeking re-election.
Party officials in those states described the arrangements as strategic steps aimed at preserving unity and preventing internal crises before the elections.
Kwara Battle Intensifies
The succession race in Kwara remains one of the most heated, despite Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq publicly endorsing Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor.
Although the endorsement triggered a wave of support from party leaders, local government chairmen and grassroots groups, several aspirants have reportedly refused to withdraw from the race, insisting that the ticket should be decided through an open primary.
Kwara currently has one of the highest numbers of APC governorship aspirants nationwide, with a crowded field that includes former Senate Leader Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Muhammed Belgore and several other contenders.
Oyo, Adamawa and Lagos Also Face Tight Contests
In Oyo, the race has also become intense, with 11 aspirants contesting the ticket, including former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Sharafadeen Alli and Akeem Agbaje.
Adamawa recorded 10 aspirants, reflecting another competitive field, while Bauchi has eight strong contenders seeking the party’s nomination.
In Lagos, political alignments continue to shift as support grows around Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
One of the aspirants, Samuel Ajose, formally withdrew from the race on Tuesday and declared support for Hamzat, describing the decision as necessary for party unity.
Former PDP governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran had earlier taken a similar step by endorsing Hamzat after consultations with party leaders.
However, businessman Lanre Jim-Kamal is said to have remained in the race, signaling that the consensus effort may not be fully successful.
Rising Tension Ahead of Primaries
Party insiders said the resistance to consensus in several states reflects deeper issues such as zoning disputes, succession politics and dissatisfaction among aspirants over perceived attempts to impose candidates.
An APC source at the national secretariat said while consensus remains the leadership’s preferred strategy to reduce post-primary litigation and internal conflict, many aspirants are unwilling to step aside after investing significant political resources in their campaigns.
With governorship primaries just hours away, the ruling party now faces the challenge of balancing internal democracy with the need to maintain unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
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