Internal dissent over consensus candidates is stirring tension within the Niger APC ahead of 2027, writes ABU NMODU.
The stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Niger State have resolved to adopt consensus to elect the party’s flagbearers during the forthcoming primaries.
The Niger State APC Chairman, Aminu Musa Bobi, explained that the expanded stakeholders’ meeting was convened to obtain stakeholders’ input on the mode of primary election to be adopted. He reassured them that he would continue to work for the overall growth and progress of the APC.
The resolution of the party at the end of the meeting showed that the stakeholders agreed to adopt consensus instead of direct primaries. It was the same system adopted last year during the November local government election in the state, and it left a bitter experience of internal wrangling.
It was therefore not surprising that some dissenting stakeholders spoke on the danger of settling for consensus candidates, hinging their argument on the possibility of losing sellable candidates who could win elections for the party and replacing them with candidates who may become liabilities during the general election.
They further argued that adopting the consensus method for the primaries would be like skating on thin ice and put the party in a difficult position of having to sell unsellable candidates during the general election, a development that could affect the party’s goodwill in the state.
LEADERSHIP Sunday reported that the stakeholders comprised foundation members and leaders, former governors and their deputies, elected officials, ministers, commissioners, party executives, and leaders at various levels, including local government chairmen, who would be expected to drive the process of consensus.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who set the ball rolling at the meeting held at Hauwa Wali Multipurpose Hall, Government House, Minna, said APC executives in the state should remain neutral in the conduct of the party’s primary election.
He also said that no aspirant should give money to party officials, as doing so would amount to bribery. According to him, this was a way of preventing inducements that could make party tickets available to the highest bidder.
The governor apparently gave his nod to the consensus, highlighting its importance and stating that it would ease the party’s situation.
He, however, added that where consensus fails, arrangements would be made for direct primary elections as provided for in the new Electoral Act.
He said critical stakeholders of the APC across the 25 local government areas of the state would come together to produce the party’s consensus candidates for Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly positions within the next two weeks.
The governor advised the critical stakeholders to respect the zoning system in areas where it already exists, while areas without such arrangements should consider adopting it going forward.
He assured that all aspirants would be treated fairly and that the APC would continue to remain united and strong. The governor’s position sounded like that of a person seeking transparency, yet making the system susceptible to easy manipulation.
This fear was expressed by the immediate past deputy governor of Niger State, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, who expressed concern that aspirants were dropping the governor’s name as the anointed candidate.
He warned that where party leaders had interests, they should state them clearly instead of allowing people to spend their resources and time only to later be told, after the consensus process, that they were not the governor’s preferred candidate.
According to him, the experience during the last local government election in the state should not be repeated, as local government elections differ from general elections.
“There is a difference between being qualified to run an election and being acceptable to the people. If we must win elections, we must allow acceptable candidates to emerge at all levels,” he bluntly admonished.
Another party leader from Chanchaga, Baba Yakubu, also spoke in the same vein, stressing the need to allow acceptable candidates to emerge during the primaries.
The APC Vice Chairman, North Central, Mu’azu Bawa Rijau, the highest-ranking party executive from the state, said the APC would always stand for fairness by providing an enabling environment for all aspirants.
