NIGERIA: The APC’s growing reliance on consensus candidate selection is fuelling internal tensions nationwide, as allegations of imposition, sidelined aspirants and regional grievances expose fractures that could undermine party unity and electoral prospects ahead of 2027.
This comes as Nigeria’s political space faces rising strain through protests, party disputes and legal battles over INEC processes, intensifying concerns about institutional neutrality and deepening mistrust that could shape electoral credibility, reports The Guardian.
The recent outcry by former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that he withdraw from the race for the Cross River North Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections, is a case in point.
Ayade, in an emotion-laden statement yesterday, revealed that he was invited to Abuja for a high-level consultation with the Presidency. He noted that during the meeting, it became apparent that the President preferred his withdrawal from the contest.
In a tone suggestive of disappointment, Ayade declared: “I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony.”
Before the former governor, renowned for his verbose budget speeches spoke out, there had been whispers of discontent over President Tinubu’s intervention in the processes leading to the APC’s straw polls.
Across the country, except in Lagos State, the implementation of the consensus method for candidate selection is unsettling the ruling party, with fears that the internal tensions could lead to anti-party activities during the main election.
There has also been marked reluctance among party chieftains to purchase the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms due to the high cost of the documents and concerns about likely voter preference for the APC in the election.
At a meeting with members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum at the Presidential Villa a fortnight ago, President Tinubu urged state governors to act fairly in conducting the party’s primaries, stressing that automatic tickets are undemocratic.
However, investigations by The Guardian show that the consensus approach adopted by many state governors has become a major source of friction in several states, particularly in senatorial zones with power-sharing arrangements among local government areas.
Similarly, the large number of senators and members of the State and National Assemblies seeking re-election has compounded the challenges facing state chapters and governors who recently joined the party.
Stakeholders argue that the party’s reward and recognition system leaves much to be desired. They note that while governors push for consensus, they often overlook provisions of the Electoral Act governing its adoption over direct primaries.
For instance, in his appeal to the President to reconsider the restriction on his senatorial ambition, Ayade highlighted his contributions to the growth and visibility of the APC in Cross River. He stated that he was the first state chief executive in the South-South to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The former governor also maintained that despite his contributions, he has remained sidelined for over three years without any federal appointment. He further noted that his federal constituency has produced a senator for only eight years in the current Fourth Republic.
Similarly, supporters of former Enugu State governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, told The Guardian that President Tinubu has treated their leader unfairly. They pointed out that the Ebeano political group in the state was the first in the South-East to endorse Tinubu for the 2023 election.
However, as reservations about the consensus approach continue to grow, findings by The Guardian indicate that its application varies across geopolitical zones.
Bamidele defends consensus option, says objection triggers direct primaries
Senate Majority Leader and Ekiti Central Senator, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, defended the consensus provision in Nigeria’s electoral law, stating that it does not permit the imposition of candidates and that a single objection is sufficient to trigger full direct primaries.
Bamidele, who played a key role in the passage of the Electoral Act under which the All Progressives Congress is conducting its 2026 governorship primaries, spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the exercise and expressed satisfaction with the turnout of party officials.
“I could also see that virtually all the members of the National Working Committee of the party are here, other than the chairman and the national secretary. It means that they are according a lot of importance to this process and it’s just the way to go. I just think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the consensus option in the Electoral Act, Bamidele maintained that the provision leaves no room for backroom arrangements. He explained that even where a candidate enjoys a unanimous endorsement, the primary process must still take place.
“In any case, there will always be primaries. Even where you have only one aspirant, there will still be primaries because for someone who has been endorsed by consensus, everybody will still go to the ward, everybody will still participate in the primaries because there will still be the need to do an endorsement — open endorsement at the ward level. So there’s nothing that can be done under the table, whether you are doing direct primaries or you are doing consensus,” he stated.
The senator further explained that the legislature removed the indirect primaries model, in which a smaller group of delegates determined outcomes, to prevent elite capture of the process.
“We didn’t think a few people in the name of delegates should take decisions on behalf of the people,” he said.
Responding to concerns about controversies surrounding consensus arrangements in Ekiti politics, Bamidele acknowledged that outcomes have varied but cited his own experience as an example of how the process can function without coercion.
He disclosed that he had submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms and that no challenger had emerged from his district.
“Stakeholders within my central district came to me to express satisfaction about the quality of representation that I’ve been able to give by the grace of God. And all of them said none of us is running against you. I didn’t have to lobby for it. I didn’t have to do anything to discourage that. It’s just that no other person has obtained the form. And it is not by any form of coercion,” he explained.
Bamidele, however, noted that his experience may not reflect conditions across the state, adding that other senatorial districts in Ekiti could record different outcomes.
“This does not mean that the same thing will happen in all three central districts in Ekiti. But again, in the event that anyone disagrees with a consensus arrangement, the law is that there must be primaries.
So anyone who wants to contest will still be given a chance to contest. A consensus is only a suggestion, which is usually a suggestion made by stakeholders within the party. But where you have anyone who is opposed to it, you just have to go to parliament,” he stated.
Political tensions rise as protests, party disputes test electoral system
Nigeria’s political space continues to face rising strain as protests, party disputes and legal battles over INEC processes intensify concerns about institutional neutrality, exposing deepening mistrust and contestation that could shape electoral credibility ahead of the general elections.
Tension rose yesterday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as scores of demonstrators protested alleged interference in the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters, operating under the banner of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, marched to the court entrance in Wuse, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards bearing messages such as “No Opposition, No Election,” “Tinubu, Let Our Democracy Breathe,” and “AGF Must Be Neutral.”
Security operatives, including officers of the Department of State Services, barricaded the entrance and prevented the demonstrators from gaining access to the court complex.
Speaking with journalists, the group’s leader, Banki Sharrif, expressed concern over what he described as threats to judicial independence and democratic institutions, accusing the Federal Government of undermining due process.
He said, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately cease all forms of interference, overt or covert, with the judiciary. Courts must never be reduced to instruments of political engineering. The moment justice is manipulated, the nation itself is placed on trial.”
Also, the Accord Party has dismissed claims that it faces deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, stating that it meets all constitutional requirements to remain a registered political party in Nigeria.
The party’s response follows reports that it was among those targeted in a suit allegedly backed by the Attorney General of the Federation.
Reacting yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Joseph Omorogbe, described the reports as the product of “ignorance or political mischief.”
He explained that, under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a political party can only be deregistered if it fails to win at least one seat in councillorship, state, or National Assembly elections, or fails to secure the minimum required votes in presidential or governorship polls.
According to him, the Accord Party has met these conditions, noting that it has won seats in Jigawa State and previously secured a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly, although it was later nullified by a tribunal.
ADC downplays Obi, Kwankwaso exit, affirms convention plans
In a related development, the Temitope Ogah-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African Democratic Congress has dismissed concerns over the exit of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, stating that the development will not disrupt its preparations for an upcoming national convention or its engagement with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The NEC said it is intensifying engagement with INEC following the submission of a formal communication outlining the party’s activities and proposed convention.
It also disclosed plans to consult with the David Mark-led National Working Committee upon receiving INEC’s response, as part of efforts to advance the process.
Speaking yesterday, NEC spokesman Don Norman Obinna, who also serves as ADC chairman in Abia State, said the situation had been exaggerated in public discourse. He maintained that the party remains focused on internal consolidation, legal compliance and producing a credible candidate for future elections.
Obinna added that the ADC’s political framework allows for broad participation, noting that the emergence of multiple aspirants is a natural phase in the build-up to primaries, after which a consensus candidate would emerge to represent the party.
ADA to appeal court ruling ordering INEC to register NDC
Still on the opposition, Umar Ardo, a founding leader of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has said the association will appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
ADA was among eight pre-qualified associations cleared by INEC in October 2025 for party registration after submitting the required information and documentation on the commission’s website.
However, on February 5, 2026, INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, stated that “only two” of the eight associations “qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”
Despite not being part of the pre-qualified associations, the NDC was subsequently registered by INEC.
Amupitan said the decision followed an order of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.
Speaking in an interview, Ardo alleged that INEC deviated from its procedures in registering the NDC. He argued that the party was not part of the 2025 screening process and called on INEC to explain why it registered the party through a court order.
Dickson releases INEC letter to counter claims on NDC registration
Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West and national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has released a response letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission acknowledging the party’s application for registration in 2017.
The development follows criticism of INEC by Umar Ardo, a founding leader of the All Democratic Alliance, who accused the commission of deviating from its procedures in registering the NDC.
In an interview with DCL Hausa posted on YouTube yesterday, Ardo criticised INEC’s decision, alleging that the NDC did not submit a formal application for registration and did not participate in the screening of 171 associations conducted in 2025.
Responding to the claims, Dickson shared INEC’s reply letter, dated March 2017 and addressed to the party’s protem chairman, in which the commission acknowledged receipt of the NDC’s application.
In an accompanying statement, Dickson said the letter shows that the NDC initiated its registration process in 2017, adding that the process was approved by INEC but later stalled.
ANALYSIS: How APC consensus drive is fuelling discontent from S’West to North
The APC’s emerging approach to candidate selection ahead of the 2027 elections is reshaping internal dynamics, as negotiations, alignments and quiet contestations redefine party cohesion across regions.
In the South-West, the APC’s increasing reliance on consensus arrangements for the 2027 elections is triggering tensions. Although designed to manage internal competition, the consensus option is now breeding resentment, regional agitation and elite rivalry.
In Oyo State, the cracks are most visible. The move by party leaders to project Senator Sharafadeen Alli as a consensus governorship candidate has unsettled other aspirants, particularly former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who has rejected the arrangement.
The disagreement goes beyond personal ambition; it reflects a deeper legitimacy crisis within the party over who determines candidates and how such decisions are reached.
More critically, agitation from the Oke-Ogun axis has compounded the situation. Leaders from the zone argue that Oyo’s power rotation has consistently sidelined them and insist that 2027 should be their turn. Any consensus that ignores this demand risks alienating a significant voting bloc.
The Oyo crisis, therefore, reflects a convergence of competing ambitions, zoning expectations and resistance to perceived imposition.
In Ogun State, the situation appears calmer but remains fragile. The endorsement of Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as a consensus candidate, backed by Governor Dapo Abiodun and other stakeholders, suggests a coordinated front.
However, beneath this alignment are unresolved rivalries, particularly between Abiodun and former governor Gbenga Daniel over political influence and control of party structures.
Tensions are also evident around the Ogun East senatorial ticket, where competing interests and grievances among aspirants could disrupt the fragile balance. What appears as unity is largely a product of elite negotiation rather than organic agreement, leaving room for future disputes.
The consensus arrangement has further pitted Governor Abiodun against Senator Daniel. While the governor claims to have been endorsed as the party’s consensus candidate for Ogun East in 2027, the incumbent senator has proceeded to purchase nomination forms for the same seat.
Findings also indicate that some governorship aspirants are quietly grumbling, arguing that the consensus approach is depriving them of the opportunity to participate.
Lagos presents a more controlled scenario. While there is a possible consensus in favour of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, the state’s complex political structure has kept dissent largely beneath the surface. Several aspirants are quietly positioning themselves, and not all stakeholders support the idea of a pre-arranged succession.
The relative silence in Lagos reflects strong party discipline and entrenched political structures, but it also masks underlying discontent. Such suppressed grievances have historically manifested in subtle forms, including protest votes or reduced campaign enthusiasm.
A party member, who requested anonymity, said many APC members in Lagos feel ostracised from the selection process.
“I’ve no grouse against Hamzat, but at least allow the process to be free, fair and credible through direct primaries,” he said.
He dismissed concerns about cost, adding: “Since the Electoral Act 2026 provides for it, let us abide by the rules.”
In Ekiti, consensus is colliding directly with zoning expectations. There has been sustained agitation for power to shift to the South Senatorial District ahead of the 2026 governorship election. However, the prominence of incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji within the APC’s calculations disrupts that expectation.
For many stakeholders in the South, any consensus that sidelines their demand is seen as a violation of an unwritten rotational understanding, heightening the risk of internal fragmentation.
Osun State reflects a slightly different dynamic. Although the party has produced a candidate through its internal processes, the influence of consensus thinking remains evident in how aspirants interpret fairness within the system. The build-up to the primary exposed divisions that remain unresolved, leaving the party vulnerable in a highly competitive political environment.
Across the region, a pattern is emerging. The APC’s consensus strategy, intended to avoid divisive primaries and reduce campaign costs, is instead shifting conflict to backroom negotiations where not all interests are adequately represented. Aspirants who feel excluded are increasingly willing to challenge outcomes, while regional blocs are asserting their claims more forcefully.
This has triggered a broader debate within the party over whether consensus reflects genuine agreement or a subtle form of imposition. The consequences are becoming evident: alienated aspirants, deepening regional grievances and fragile alliances held together more by expediency than trust.
South-East: Unsettling a suspect platform
Save for Abia State, where the consensus arrangement continues to face opposition, the idea appears to have taken hold in the other four states—Enugu, Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi.
In Abia, the contest is between the senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzo Kalu, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, over who leads the party. The dispute, which began some weeks ago, has prevented the consensus arrangement from taking effect.
Orji maintains that, as a former governor, he should preside over meetings on the consensus arrangement, a position resisted by Benjamin, who argues that doing so would sideline him given his current office.
There are indications that the party may resort to direct primaries following the failure of consensus.
In the other four states, however, the party has adopted the consensus arrangement. The governors of Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States have obtained the nomination and expression of interest forms and are issuing them to party stalwarts after consultations with key stakeholders in the affected areas.
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, after a stakeholders’ meeting last week, announced the names of successful contend
