Fresh concerns have emerged within Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, as several winners of the recently concluded primary elections accused the party leadership of delaying the issuance of Certificates of Return in what they fear could be a move to alter the final list of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The aggrieved aspirants, drawn from different states and elective positions, alleged that weeks after the conduct of the primaries and the announcement of winners by various committees, many successful candidates were yet to receive official confirmation documents from the party.
The development has reportedly created tension within the party, with some members expressing fears that the delay may be linked to internal efforts to replace candidates not considered loyal to influential figures within the party hierarchy.
Several aspirants, who spoke anonymously for fear of possible sanctions, said the uncertainty surrounding the process had continued to fuel suspicion among party members and supporters across the country.
One of the affected aspirants said the delay was becoming difficult to explain, especially after the party publicly declared winners at the end of the primary exercises conducted between May 15 and May 23.
“We participated in the primaries in good faith; results were announced by the duly constituted primary committees, and winners emerged. But weeks after the exercise, many of us are yet to receive our Certificates of Return,” the aspirant said.
The source also expressed concern over recent remarks allegedly linked to members of the party’s National Working Committee, suggesting that the leadership still had the authority to determine who eventually becomes the party’s official candidate.
According to the aspirant, such comments have increased fears that the outcome of some primaries may still be overturned despite the announced results.
“What is more troubling is the statement by some NWC members that the party leadership reserves the right to determine who becomes a candidate irrespective of who was declared winner by the chairman of the primary election committee. That statement is dangerous and undemocratic,” the source added.
Another party member alleged that there were ongoing consultations within the leadership of the party aimed at replacing some candidates who were not favoured by powerful interests.
The controversy has also drawn attention to what some party stakeholders described as unequal treatment among candidates.
They noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was presented with his Certificate of Return almost immediately after securing the party’s presidential ticket, while many other victorious aspirants across the federation were still waiting for theirs.
“The President has already received his Certificate of Return, so why are others being delayed? The party should not create the impression that some candidates are more valid than others,” one of the aspirants stated.
When contacted over the allegations, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, declined to directly confirm or deny the claims.
“The party leadership has done nothing to warrant this question,” he said.
However, party sources disclosed that the National Working Committee was still reviewing reports submitted by the various primary election panels before making final decisions in line with the constitution and guidelines of the party.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders within the APC have warned against any attempt to invalidate the outcome of consensus or direct primaries on the grounds that results were announced before being officially transmitted to the party headquarters.
In a memorandum reportedly addressed to the party’s National Chairman and members of the NWC, a group of stakeholders argued that the committees deployed to oversee the primaries acted on behalf of the national leadership and therefore possessed the authority to declare results at the end of the exercise.
The memorandum, signed by Barrister Abdullazeez Mamman on behalf of APC stakeholders nationwide, stated, “The ballot is not a proposal. The will of party members expressed through consensus and direct primary elections is not subject to nullification by administrative fiat.”
