The ruling All Progressives Congress has stepped up efforts to manage the political fallout and complaints from its recent primary elections and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s subsequent announcement of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Saturday, the electoral umpire released the parties’ list of governorship candidates and their running mates along with their particulars.
The publication, contained in Form EC9, was pasted at INEC headquarters across the states, effectively ending uncertainty over candidates that will fly the flags of the major political parties in the country.
The APC governorship primaries were conducted in May, but the outcome, alongside the list of candidates and aspirants uploaded to the INEC portal, has generated reactions among members of the ruling party.
Several aggrieved governorship aspirants and others vying for various positions in the ruling party raised concerns over the processes through which the chosen candidates emerged, with some seeking legal means while others defected from the party.
However, the party’s national leadership says it has begun reconciliation moves at various levels to placate aggrieved aspirants and members, urging those who lost out in the primaries to remain within the APC and work for the success of its candidates.
The move has become increasingly important as post-primary disputes have emerged across several states, ranging from court challenges and allegations of irregularities to defections and the formation of alternative political platforms by dissatisfied party members.
While the intensity of the crises varies from state to state, the developments have raised questions about the APC’s ability to consolidate its structures and present a united front in the 2027 elections.
In some states, including Gombe and Bayelsa, the party has moved quickly to establish reconciliation mechanisms or rely on existing political arrangements to prevent disagreements from escalating. In others, such as Yobe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Sokoto, Edo, Imo and Adamawa, disputes over primaries have resulted in litigation, defections, factional disagreements or growing opposition efforts to exploit the situation.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told The PUNCH that the National Working Committee had held several meetings on the grievances arising from the primaries, stressing that the party must resolve its differences before going into the electoral contest.
He said reconciliation committees had been established at various levels to engage aggrieved members, adding that the party was extending an olive branch to those who failed to secure tickets.
Ibrahim stated, “The party is taking reconciliation seriously because we have to go to the battlefield united. We already have reconciliation committees at various levels working to assuage the concerns of aggrieved members.
“We are extending an olive branch to those who did not get what they wanted at the first attempt. If you don’t get what you want today, it doesn’t mean you won’t get it tomorrow.”
Gombe State Governor and leader of the party in the state, Muhammadu Yahaya, has inaugurated a 25-member reconciliation committee to resolve internal grievances and strengthen the party ahead of next year’s elections.
Yahaya charged the committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, to engage aggrieved members and aspirants and rebuild unity following recent party congresses, primary elections, and local government polls.
The governor also appealed to members dissatisfied with the outcomes of the exercises to embrace dialogue and put the party’s interest first.
“We need to sheath our swords and embrace dialogue so that we can put our house in order as the 2027 general elections draw closer. Our strength lies in our unity,” Yahaya said.
The governor said the party’s target was to retain all elective positions in the state and secure at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
He acknowledged that some party members were unhappy with the outcomes of the recent political exercises, particularly unsuccessful aspirants.
“Some decisions and outcomes arising from these political processes may not have gone down well with some of our members, particularly those who aspired for elective offices but were unsuccessful,” he said.
