The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State is experiencing fresh internal divisions as a coalition of party media volunteers raises concerns over alleged interference in the buildup to the party's primary elections.
Media Volunteers Reject Consensus Arrangement
In an open letter issued on Monday, the group, which claims to represent nearly 80 percent of APC media volunteers in the state, called on Governor Agbu Kefas to stay out of the party's internal selection process. The appeal comes amid growing unease over what the group termed a 'power play' that could destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The core of the dispute centers on the adoption of a consensus arrangement for selecting candidates. The media group strongly rejected this move, labeling the recently constituted consensus committees as 'lopsided' and unrepresentative of the broader party base. Instead, the group advocated for direct primaries, arguing that such a process would allow party members to freely determine their preferred candidates without external influence.
'Allow the electorate within the party to decide who deserves to lead them,' the group stated, warning that any attempt to impose candidates could deepen divisions and fuel dissatisfaction among loyalists.
Political Observers Warn of Deeper Tensions
Political observers say the controversy reflects deeper tensions within the Taraba APC, where competing interests are beginning to surface ahead of a crucial electoral cycle. There are concerns that unresolved grievances could lead to defections or weaken grassroots mobilization efforts. The group further cautioned that internal disunity could undermine the party's broader political goals, including consolidating support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The current standoff follows the appointment of consensus committees across Taraba's three senatorial zones. The committees were mandated to facilitate the emergence of unified candidates for elective offices on the APC platform. However, the initiative has reportedly faced resistance from sections of the party, including aspirants and eligible voters, many of whom view the process as exclusionary.
Insiders suggested that the disagreement has already triggered a 'cold war' within party ranks, raising fears of a deeper factional split if not carefully managed. The letter, signed by Yakubu Mohammed, who identified himself as Head of APC Media in Taraba and Acting Head of APC Media Critics in the Northeast, urged the governor to abandon the consensus approach and allow internal democracy to prevail.
As the APC prepares for the 2027 elections, the situation in Taraba underscores the delicate balance between party cohesion and candidate selection processes—an issue that could shape not only the party's fortunes in the state but its national outlook as well.
