Tension has continued to rise within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the disqualification of more than 150 aspirants during its ongoing pre-primary screening exercise ahead of the party’s primaries.
The development has sparked widespread concern within the party, with affected aspirants across several states alleging bias, lack of transparency, and attempts to impose preferred candidates through controversial consensus arrangements.
The screening process, which is a key step in preparing candidates for upcoming elections, has instead triggered protests, petitions, and growing internal dissatisfaction across multiple state chapters of the party.
Reports from different states indicate that the controversy cuts across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Anambra, Kogi, Ebonyi, Rivers, and other regions where aspirants have been either disqualified or excluded from contesting under disputed circumstances.
In Kano State, some aspirants and supporters staged protests over alleged imposition of candidates and backroom agreements that they claim undermined the integrity of the screening process.
In Jigawa State, the fallout has already led to political realignments, including the resignation of a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly from the APC after being disqualified. He later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing dissatisfaction with the party’s internal processes.
Across several states, aggrieved aspirants have accused party leadership of favouring selected individuals through consensus arrangements that were not widely accepted.
Many of them insist that the process does not reflect the principles of internal democracy, warning that such decisions could weaken the party ahead of the primaries and general elections.
In Anambra State, tensions escalated further after about 30 members, including aspirants, were reportedly expelled for taking legal action against the party. State leaders maintained that the decision was in line with party rules that prohibit members from suing the party over internal matters.
Party officials further stated that expelled members could only be reconsidered if they withdrew their court cases.
In Kaduna State, disputes have emerged over alleged attempts to impose consensus candidates for key legislative positions. Some stakeholders have rejected the arrangement, arguing that it limits fair competition and weakens internal democracy.
A party stakeholder was quoted as saying that the consensus arrangement was unacceptable, reflecting growing resistance to the process in some quarters.
Political observers say the growing discontent may pose a challenge to the APC’s cohesion ahead of its primaries. There are concerns that unresolved grievances could lead to further defections or legal battles if not properly managed.
The situation also highlights ongoing tensions within the party over zoning arrangements, candidate selection, and internal democracy.
Despite the backlash, APC officials maintain that the screening exercise remains an essential step in preparing credible candidates for the primaries.
Appeal committees are expected to review disputed cases, while the party continues to finalize its list of cleared aspirants across various states.
However, with protests and dissatisfaction increasing, party leaders face mounting pressure to manage internal conflicts and prevent further divisions.
