Resistance to consensus arrangements has intensified ahead of the All Progressives Congress governorship primaries scheduled for Thursday, with aspirants in about 10 states refusing to step down and insisting on a contest.
Party leaders had backed consensus to reduce internal disputes and present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections. But in several states, contenders have rejected the plan and vowed to test their strength at the primaries.
The most tense contests are in Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers, Yobe and Gombe.
In some APC-controlled states, governors have already secured consensus backing. In Sokoto, party leader Abubakar Umar said, “We don’t have any other contestant apart from Governor Ahmed Aliyu. As was the case in the previous primaries, what remains is simply the ratification of his candidacy for another term.”
In Kebbi, Abdullahi Zuru said, “The party has agreed to present only the governor as its candidate. There is no opposition to his second-term ambition within the party.”
In Jigawa, APC chairman MK Garba said the process would only ratify the consensus already reached. “We don’t have any other contestant apart from Governor Umar Namadi. We will only have to confirm the ratification of his candidacy for a second term,” he said.
In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorsed Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor. He described Seriki as “young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded,” with “profound investments and extensive goodwill among the people of Kwara State.”
The governor added that the endorsement did not preclude other aspirants from contesting, and urged members to back Seriki “for cohesion, unity and continuous success of the party.”
But a party source in Ilorin said many aspirants are unwilling to drop out. “They believe the ticket should be determined through open contest and not predetermined arrangements,” the source said.
In Plateau, aspirant Yilcini Bida dismissed reports that he had stepped down. “I want to inform the people of Plateau State that I am still in the race. Rumours are flying around that I have stepped down, but I remain fully committed to contesting the primary on Thursday,” he said.
Bida outlined plans to spend N1 trillion on lighting projects within a year, construct 40km of road in each local government area, and recruit personnel from rural communities to improve security.
In Lagos, two aspirants have withdrawn in favour of Deputy Governor Kadiri Hamzat. Samuel Ajose said, “In the interest of the party, I have decided to step aside and support Hamzat. We are going to be part of his campaign and play an important role.”
Abdul-Azeez Adediran said his decision followed the endorsement of Hamzat by President Bola Tinubu and Lagos party leaders. “I have decided to withdraw from the 2027 Lagos State gubernatorial race,” he said.
The APC raised about N5.05 billion from forms sold to 101 aspirants. Primaries will hold in 28 states, with appeals scheduled afterward.
While consensus has held in some states, divisions remain in others as aspirants prepare for direct contests on Thursday.
