A full-blown internal crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the conduct of senatorial primaries across several states. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the Presidential Villa are reportedly on a collision course with state governors who defied “signalled preferences” from the presidency.
The crisis, which had been brewing throughout the primary season, burst into the open as results from several states contradicted the wishes of the national leadership. Consequently, the NWC is now considering invoking its constitutional powers to set aside outcomes and impose candidates that align with the interests of the Presidency.
What was intended to be an orderly exercise has devolved into a theatre of violence, petitions, and procedural manipulation. At the heart of the friction is a pattern in at least three states where aspirants believed to have the backing of the Presidential Villa were sidelined by incumbent governors.
**The Flashpoints**
In Edo State, sources indicate that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, supported Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for a senatorial ticket. However, parallel declarations suggest the state’s internal party structure prevailed.
In Delta Central, President Bola Tinubu’s “body language” was interpreted as an endorsement of former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege. Despite this, the state’s power brokers moved in a different direction. Similarly, in Bayelsa, Ben Murray-Bruce was understood to have secured the “Villa’s nod,” only for the state leadership to disregard the signal.
The unrest extended to Ondo Central, where primaries were marred by gunshots and thuggery. Aggrieved aspirants have petitioned the National Chairman, labelling the exercise a “kangaroo process” manipulated by state actors. This followed the NWC’s earlier rejection of a consensus list submitted by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In Ogun State, Deputy Chief Whip Isiaka Ibrahim accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of orchestrating a “shameful” affirmation process rather than a genuine primary, a sentiment echoed by several outraged lawmakers.
**Widespread Irregularities**
The disorder spread further to Kogi, Kwara, and Taraba states:
* **Kogi East:** Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the results, accusing Governor Ahmed Ododo’s camp of hijacking election materials and intimidating supporters.
* **Kwara Central:** Confusion erupted over a “fraudulent” list of cleared aspirants that surfaced on election morning, leading to a controversial affirmation process.
* **Taraba North:** Local youth groups and stakeholders revolted against a screening committee endorsement of incumbent Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau.
Party sources also identified Nasarawa, Plateau, and Rivers as flashpoints where the national leadership and state governors failed to reach a consensus.
**Abuja’s Counter-Move**
The NWC is currently conducting a “quiet audit” of the results. To provide procedural cover for potential overrides, the National Secretariat has issued a disclaimer. Signed by Albukalreem Bala Kwali, Chief of Staff to the National Chairman, the statement declared all media-circulated results unauthorized.
The NWC has explicitly directed that no results be announced until they are formally reviewed and verified in Abuja. National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Argungu had previously warned committees against conducting media briefings outside the federal capital, giving the NWC a firm basis to nullify outcomes that do not align with the national leadership’s preferences.
**A Party at a Crossroads**
The deepening crisis exposes a fundamental fault line between the centripetal authority of the Presidency and the centrifugal force of state governors who control local party structures.
Political analysts warn that the resolution of these disputes will either consolidate President Tinubu’s grip on the APC machinery or embolden governors to act as independent power centres ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party’s ability to present a united front may depend on how decisively it handles this internal reckoning.
