Party may be forced to conduct primaries in Yobe, Benue, Nasarawa, other states
Opposition is mounting within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as increasing numbers of aspirants and stakeholders across several states have rejected the party’s proposed consensus mode of primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What was initially presented by party leaders as a unifying mechanism to reduce internal contestation is now facing widespread resistance, with multiple aspirants insisting that only open, competitive primaries can guarantee fairness and compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026.
The growing pushback suggests that the APC may ultimately be forced to conduct full direct primaries in several states, including Yobe, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Kwara, Oyo, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi and others, where consensus arrangements have been announced or are being considered.
The Electoral Act, 2026, which provides the legal framework for the 2027 general elections, allows political parties to adopt either consensus or direct primaries.
However, Section 87 of the Act clearly sets strict conditions for consensus arrangements, stating that all cleared aspirants must give written consent indicating voluntary withdrawal from the race and endorsement of a single candidate. Where such consent is not obtained, parties are required to revert to direct primaries.
As the APC concludes the sale and submission of nomination forms, it is becoming increasingly evident that consensus arrangements are struggling to hold, even in states where influential party leaders have attempted to impose them.
Yobe State: Consensus Faces Open Rejection
In Yobe State, the APC leadership under Governor Mai Mala Buni had adopted a consensus arrangement, reportedly endorsing former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Wali, as the party’s governorship candidate.
The endorsement was made at a meeting in Abuja attended by Governor Buni, the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, and other critical stakeholders.
However, the arrangement has been strongly opposed by other aspirants, including Kashim Musa Tumsah, former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, and Senator Ibrahim Bomai, all of whom have purchased and submitted nomination forms.
Tumsah argued that consensus must strictly comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, warning against elite-driven selection processes.
He stated that consensus “does not mean one or two people sitting in a room selecting whoever they want as the party’s candidate.”
Similarly, former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba rejected any suggestion that he had agreed to step down or endorse a consensus arrangement.
“If I believed in any consensus, I wouldn’t be here. I have not attended any consensus meeting, nor have I agreed to support anyone,” he said.
The development has effectively thrown the Yobe APC governorship race open, with indications that the party may be forced into direct primaries.
Nasarawa State: Parallel Aspirations Emerge
In Nasarawa State, Senator Aliyu Wadada has reportedly emerged as the preferred consensus candidate of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
