The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly lowered its push for consensus mode of primary elections ahead of the House of Representatives shadow elections, following widespread internal resistance from aspirants and grassroots members across the 360 federal constituencies. The decision aims to avoid post-primary crises and ensure party cohesion ahead of Senatorial and Governorship primaries.
Last night, the APC shifted the House of Representatives primary election for the 2027 general elections to Saturday, 16th May 2026. The adjustment affects only the House of Representatives primaries, while dates for other elections remain unchanged. This came shortly after President Bola Tinubu called on party members to uphold unity, fairness, and sportsmanship as the party commences nationwide primary elections.
Tinubu Calls for Peace and Sportsmanship
In a statement released ahead of the primaries, President Tinubu described the exercise as a defining moment for the party, noting that the APC, founded on progressive politics, consensus-building, and sacrifice, is preparing for its fourth electoral cycle. He called on APC leaders to conduct primary elections wherever consensus fails, charging all participants to keep the peace and be ready to play as sportsmen and women in the overall interest of the party and the country.
“Election is an essential ingredient of democracy. Where consensus fails, I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters. In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time,” Tinubu said.
The President acknowledged ongoing consultations among party leaders aimed at producing consensus candidates, describing the approach as commendable and capable of reducing internal rancour. He urged members to take advantage of the consensus option where possible, but stressed that where consensus fails, all aspirants and delegates must conduct themselves peacefully and democratically.
Shift from Consensus to Direct Primaries
While the NWC initially advocated for consensus, the party’s Organising Department on Thursday dispatched election materials and result sheets to all states, a move insiders interpret as a green light for direct primaries. A high-ranking source confirmed that the leadership chose to remain flexible to avoid a full-scale internal crisis. “Reports from many states showed that our members and aspirants would rather subject their aspirations to an election than concede to consensus,” the source stated.
The shift in strategy comes as protests rocked several states where stakeholders felt consensus was being used as a smokescreen for imposition. In Oyo State, supporters of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu stormed the party secretariat in Ibadan, protesting the endorsement of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the consensus governorship candidate. “Imposing a candidate denies others a fair opportunity. We demand transparency and the adoption of direct primaries,” one protester noted.
Resistance in the North
Opposition to the consensus option is vocal in the North, where it is being vigorously resisted in some states. Former Minister of Communications Prof. Isa Pantami vowed to fight consensus in Gombe State, while heavyweights such as former IGPs Abubakar Mohammed Adamu (Nasarawa) and Usman Alkali Baba (Yobe), alongside Mathias Byuan (Benue), have all voiced their preference for a competitive process. However, ex-IGP Baba yesterday withdrew from the Yobe guber race.
Ondo State Tensions
In Ondo State, National Assembly aspirants have accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of plotting to unleash violence against aspirants and party members who rejected his purported controversial consensus list. The aspirants, under the aegis of Progressive Aspirants Forum, raised the alarm at a press conference in Akure, alleging that Aiyedatiwa convened a meeting with suspected political thugs at the Government House with instructions to attack aspirants excluded from his preferred list.
The group warned that unless the national leadership of the APC and security agencies swiftly intervene, the state could witness a recurrence of violent political crises that marred the 1965 and 1983 elections in the old Western Region. Aiyedatiwa had last week forwarded a list of his preferred aspirants to the APC National Secretariat, claiming they emerged through a consensus arrangement, but the arrangement was faulted for non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2026 and party guidelines.
One of the aspirants, Olujimi Adekanle, stated that the decision by excluded party members to purchase forms and pursue their aspirations has angered Aiyedatiwa. The state government, however, called on APC members to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly during the primaries, in line with President Tinubu’s directive.
Mimiko Joins APC
Meanwhile, former Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has joined the APC at his Ward 7 secretariat in Ondo West Local Government Area, ending months of speculation. The defection took place at the party’s ward headquarters in Ondo City, with the former governor received by party hierarchy and faithful. Mimiko resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a month ago, where he had remained largely inactive while many of his associates had already crossed over to the APC.
Addressing party members after completing his registration, Mimiko said, “There are a lot of good things being done by the President Tinubu-led government, and though much more will still have to be done.” The State Chairman of the APC, Kolawole Babatunde, described Mimiko as a progressive in all ramifications, pointing to his track record in health, education, infrastructure development, and other critical sectors.
