APC primaries: North-Central Forum says over 50% of members angry with process

By Joseph Erunke

A major crack has emerged within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, following allegations by the North-Central APC Forum that more than half of the party’s members are dissatisfied with the conduct of the just-concluded State and National Assembly primaries.

The Forum accused top party officials of poor handling of the primary election process, manipulating outcomes and plunging the APC into confusion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The primaries across several states were reportedly marred by controversies, including disqualifications, conflicting results, allegations of irregularities and violent disruptions.

Some aspirants screened out of the contests have already rejected their disqualification and threatened legal action unless the decisions are reversed.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said the chaotic conduct of the exercise had vindicated the Forum’s earlier warning that the primaries had been compromised by party national officials.

According to him, many of those disqualified were aspirants who allegedly refused to “dance to the tune” of influential figures within the party leadership.

“What we have witnessed is that the process kept getting worse by the day. People who should ordinarily be cleared were disqualified, while those who should not scale through were cleared because of selfish interests,” Zazzaga stated.

“That is why we earlier raised the alarm that the process had been commercialised. From what we have gathered, more than 50 percent of APC members across the country are unhappy with the conduct of the primary elections.

“They are also dissatisfied with how the national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, is running the party, “the statement added.

The Forum alleged that unlike previous exercises where competence and experience determined appointments into election committees, the current committees were largely populated by associates and loyalists of party national officers.

According to the group, many of those deployed to supervise the primaries lacked the experience and capacity required for such sensitive assignments.

“What played out was that party officials sent their cronies to different states to conduct the primaries, even when such individuals lacked the competence and exposure needed for the task,” the statement added.

“Selection into the committees was based largely on personal relationships and willingness to carry out the bidding of party national officers, “the group claimed.

The Forum further alleged that aspirants perceived to be popular and likely to win were deliberately targeted for disqualification once they failed to align with the interests of influential party figures.

“If an aspirant refuses to cooperate with them and they realise the person is likely to win, they quickly announce that such aspirant has been disqualified. That is why there is confusion in many constituencies and senatorial districts,” the Forum claimed.

The group warned that the growing discontent within the APC could trigger a damaging internal crisis if urgent steps were not taken to restore confidence in the party’s internal democratic process.

It ,therefore ,called on the party leadership to rein in national officers accused of manipulating the primaries for personal interests.

The Forum recalled that barely 24 hours before the commencement of the primaries, it had raised concerns that the process had been monetised by party officials.

The House of Representatives primaries, initially scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026, were later shifted to Saturday, May 16, 2026, by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.

Although the party did not provide reasons for the postponement, the North-Central APC Forum insisted the delay was linked to alleged financial dealings and manipulation surrounding the exercise.

The Forum also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s earlier call for transparent, peaceful and violence-free primaries, warning that the alleged poor handling of the process could weaken the APC ahead of the next general elections.

“The APC must not allow selfish interests and manipulation to destroy the party from within. The warning signs are already there,” the Forum cautioned.

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