The recent internal elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have triggered fresh controversy across Nigeria’s political landscape, exposing widening cracks within the ruling party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The week-long exercise, meant to strengthen the party’s internal structure and consolidate control ahead of the next election cycle, instead descended into chaos in several states — with allegations of ghost voting, inflated figures, parallel results, and outright non-existent elections being announced.
Across different regions, reports suggested that in some constituencies, no actual voting took place, yet winners were still declared. In other areas, rival factions produced conflicting results for the same election, further deepening confusion and mistrust within the party.
In places like Gombe State, aspirants accused officials of announcing results without conducting proper accreditation or voting processes. Similar allegations of manipulation, voter intimidation, and imposition of candidates were reported in Lagos, Adamawa, Kaduna, Ondo, and other states.
The situation in some areas was so chaotic that protests erupted, with aggrieved members openly rejecting outcomes and accusing party leadership of undermining internal democracy.
Critics say the exercise reflected a deeper problem within the APC’s internal structure — a system where consensus arrangements and top-down decisions often override genuine grassroots participation. While some candidates emerged peacefully and celebrated their victories, many others described the process as predetermined and unfair.
The controversy was further intensified by unusually large vote counts in some senatorial primaries, raising questions about transparency and voter accreditation in a process meant to involve party delegates at ward levels.
As the APC continues its primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, the growing list of grievances suggests that internal unity may be under serious strain. Several aspirants have already signaled plans to challenge the results through party appeal mechanisms or legal channels.
Analysts say the outcome of these primaries could shape not only the party’s internal cohesion but also its strength heading into the next general election cycle.
For now, what was intended as a show of political strength has instead become a public display of internal tension — one that could define the APC’s path to 2027.