The APC National Working Committee (NWC) has sent delegations to the troubled chapters to resolve disputes arising from governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly primaries. This move aims to restore harmony and cohesion in the party ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has been hit by litigations, defections, and threats of defections by aggrieved chieftains in these states.
In Oyo State, supporters of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu have not teamed up with the governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, after the shadow poll. This development has created tension within the party. Similarly, in Kwara, a crisis erupted between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and a former governorship aspirant, Senator Saliu Mustapha, over the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Saliu Yakubu Danladi as candidate.
The Benue chapter is also polarised by the crisis of confidence between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, over the outcome of primaries. Although concerted efforts have been made to bring the two camps together, both sides have refused to close ranks. In Osun, APC went to the August governorship poll as a divided party and became more divided after its defeat.
The APC national leadership conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during its retreat in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the retreat brought together the members of the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC) for the first time.
Basiru stated that reconciliation of aggrieved members is a major step in the party's preparations for the polls. He added that the party has identified areas of strength and weakness and has resolved to send representations to Benue, Kwara, and Osun. The party is battling with 153 litigations from across the country, but Basiru noted that this number is lower than those of previous electioneering.
The APC has also received a boost with the defection of some members from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara states. Many House of Assembly candidates defected to the APC, citing their passion for national development. The defectors in Zamfara, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's "Renewed Hope" agenda.
National Chairman, Prof. Netanwe Yilwatda, received the defectors and thanked them for making the sacrifice. Yilwatda commended the young politicians for sacrificing their personal political aspirations for the broader national interest. He described their defections as a significant boost to the party's progressive vision for 2027 and beyond.
Key points
- The APC has initiated peace moves in five state chapters to resolve disputes and promote harmony ahead of the 2027 general election.
- The party is battling with 153 litigations from across the country.
- The APC received a boost with the defection of some members from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara states.
