Tension has intensified within the All Progressives Congress ahead of its governorship primaries, as resistance to consensus arrangements grows across at least 10 states, with many aspirants refusing to step down and insisting on contesting at the polls.
Despite ongoing efforts by party leaders and governors to streamline the selection process through endorsements and negotiated consensus, several aspirants across states including Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa, Bauchi, Lagos, Plateau, Nasarawa, Rivers, Gombe, and Yobe have pushed back, insisting on direct competition.
The party had fixed its governorship expression of interest form at ₦10 million and nomination form at ₦40 million, generating over ₦5 billion from more than 100 aspirants nationwide ahead of the primaries scheduled for May 21 in 28 states.
While some governors and political blocs have successfully secured consensus arrangements for second-term ambitions, others are facing internal disputes over succession plans.
In states such as Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kano, party structures have largely aligned behind incumbent governors, describing the arrangements as efforts to maintain unity and avoid internal crises.
However, Kwara State has emerged as a major flashpoint, where multiple aspirants are challenging Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred successor, despite his endorsement of Yahaya Seriki and growing support from party stakeholders.
Similar disputes have been reported in Oyo and Adamawa, where numerous aspirants continue to contest for the party ticket, reflecting deep internal divisions over zoning and leadership succession.
In Lagos, political alignments are also shifting, with several aspirants withdrawing in support of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat following endorsements by key party figures.
Across the country, the APC has already recorded consensus candidates in more than 10 states, including Delta, Kano, Enugu, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto, where governors and party structures have secured unified backing.
Party insiders say the growing split between consensus arrangements and direct contestation highlights ongoing tensions between internal democracy and political stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
