APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as Aspirants Challenge Consensus in 28 States

The All Progressives Congress is staring at one of its most contentious governorship primary seasons in recent memory, with aspirants in 28 states openly defying consensus arrangements and governors’ preferred candidates ahead of Thursday’s primaries.

A total of 101 governorship aspirants have purchased nomination forms nationwide, generating approximately N5.05 billion for the party. But behind the revenue figure lies a party deeply fractured over succession plans in key states.

Consensus collapses in flashpoint states

Despite efforts by party leaders and governors to streamline the primaries through backroom negotiations, resistance has intensified in at least 10 states where governors attempted to impose consensus candidates. The pushback spans Kwara, Gombe, Oyo, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Yobe.

In Kwara State, the situation has become the most dramatic. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq publicly endorsed businessman Abdulfatai Seriki as his preferred successor after what he described as “extensive consultations” with party leaders. Yet 15 aspirants are still contesting the primary, including former Senate Leader Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Muhammed Belgore (SAN), and Salihu Mustapha.

“The governor may have made his preference known, but many aspirants are not willing to surrender their ambitions,” a senior party official in Ilorin told The PUNCH. “They believe the ticket should be determined through open contest and not predetermined arrangements.”

Kwara leads with 16 aspirants

Kwara recorded the highest number of governorship contenders in the country with 16 aspirants — a figure that political observers say reflects shifting power calculations and widening discontent within the state’s political structure.

Many stakeholders are insisting that the APC may be taking a dangerous electoral risk if it ignores the Kwara Central Senatorial District in its succession arrangement. The district, which comprises Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Asa, accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the state’s voting strength.

Behind Kwara is Oyo State with 11 governorship aspirants, including former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, and Akeem Agbaje. Adamawa State came third with 10 aspirants, while Bauchi recorded eight.

Where consensus held

Despite the chaos in flashpoint states, the APC is seeing smoother sailing in several states where incumbent governors face no internal challengers. Governors Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), and Ogbonna Nwifuru (Ebonyi) have secured overwhelming backing from party structures, with sole aspirant status effectively endorsing them as the party’s candidates.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who defected from the PDP to the APC, has also consolidated party support ahead of the primary.

In Sokoto, party stalwart Abubakar Umar said members had unanimously resolved to back Governor Ahmed Aliyu for a second term. “We don’t have any other contestant apart from Governor Ahmed Aliyu,” he said. “What remains is simply the ratification of his candidacy.”

Similar arrangements held in Jigawa and Kebbi, where governors faced no opposition from within their party ranks.

Plateau aspirant refuses to back down

In Plateau State, retired naval officer Commander Yilchini Jan Bida dismissed reports that he had withdrawn from the race. “I want to inform the people of Plateau State that I am still in the race,” Bida said. “Rumours are flying around that I have stepped down, but I remain fully committed to contesting the primary on Thursday.”

Bida, who was recently cleared by the APC screening committee, promised a N1 trillion lighting project within one year and the construction of 40km of roads in each local government area if he secures the ticket and goes on to win the general election against incumbent PDP Governor Caleb Mutfwang. On insecurity, he pledged to strengthen Operation Rainbow, the state-owned security outfit.

Party considers scrapping consensus for flashpoint states

The resistance has forced the APC to consider scrapping the consensus plan entirely for flashpoint states. The party has scheduled direct primaries for Thursday, May 21, with appeals from the exercises expected to be heard on May 24.

The cost of governorship forms was set at N10 million for expression of interest and N40 million for nomination — a price tag that did not deter the record number of aspirants now forcing confrontations across the country.

As the primaries approach, the APC faces a delicate balancing act: respecting democratic contest while managing the fallout from governors whose preferred candidates may be rejected at the polls. The outcome in states like Kwara, Oyo, and Rivers could reshape the party’s power structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sources: Punch, Guardian.ng, The Nation, The Sun, New Telegraph