2027: INEC List Exposes Fresh Cracks Within APC

The release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) list of candidates for the 2027 general elections has reopened internal disputes within the All Progressives Congress (APC), with unresolved complaints from its recent primary elections resurfacing across several states.

INEC released the particulars of governorship candidates and their running mates on Saturday, August 29, 2026, through Form EC9, displaying the information at its headquarters across the states. The publication effectively settled the uncertainty over the candidates officially recognised for the various governorship contests.

However, the publication has brought renewed attention to disagreements that followed the APC’s governorship primaries conducted in May 2026. Several aspirants who lost the contests have questioned how the eventual candidates emerged, while some have turned to the courts and others have left the party.

The APC leadership has responded by intensifying reconciliation efforts, appealing to aggrieved aspirants and members to remain within the party and work for the success of its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

The disagreements have taken different forms across the country, including court cases, allegations of irregularities, defections, factional disputes and the emergence of alternative political platforms.

In Yobe State, for instance, Mustapha Maihaja is challenging the emergence of Alhaji Baba Wali, who won the APC governorship primary on May 21, 2026, with 236,711 votes. Maihaja filed a case at the Federal High Court in Damaturu, alleging that the primary was not conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines.

The case is still pending, with the court adjourning proceedings to September 7, 8 and 9, 2026. Maihaja has not defected from the APC, while Wali has appealed to other aspirants to work with him ahead of the election.

In Nasarawa State, the APC has also been hit by political movements following the defection of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to the Social Democratic Party. Adamu had contested the APC governorship primary but later rejected the outcome, citing alleged breaches of internal democracy, fairness and transparency.

Another aspirant, Professor Mohammed Haruna, has also rejected the party’s primary outcome, increasing pressure on the Nasarawa APC as it attempts to contain the fallout.

The crisis has also spread to Benue State, where candidates whose names were substituted by the APC’s National Working Committee have gone to court.

Among them is Sesugh Kaaba, a House of Assembly aspirant who filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He is asking the court to prevent INEC and the APC from recognising candidates who did not emerge from the party primaries supervised by the electoral commission.

The case, before Justice Inyang Ekwo, involves demands concerning candidates including Governor Hyacinth Alia, Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber and Francis Ottah Agbo. Judgment has been fixed for October 12, 2026.

The Benue dispute followed allegations of irregularities after supporters of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, complained about the outcome of National Assembly primaries won by candidates loyal to Governor Alia.

In Kwara State, the APC is also managing disagreements stemming from its May 22 governorship primary, which produced Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the party’s candidate. The group known as the G15 rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities and manipulation.

The crisis was compounded by the defection of Senator Saliu Mustapha from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he secured the Kwara Central senatorial ticket.

In Sokoto, Governor Ahmed Aliyu emerged as the APC governorship candidate through a consensus arrangement. While the party described the process as peaceful, the state has recorded defections, including that of House of Representatives member Isah Ambarura, who moved from the APC to the African Democratic Congress.

Similar disagreements are being witnessed in Imo State, where Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and former governor Rochas Okorocha are challenging the party’s senatorial tickets in court.

Araraume is challenging the APC’s decision to award the Imo North senatorial ticket to incumbent Senator Patrick Ndubueze, while Okorocha is challenging the Imo West ticket associated with Governor Hope Uzodimma.

In Ebonyi State, the APC is dealing with a dispute over the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, where Idu Igariwey is challenging the candidacy of Joseph Ekumankama. Igariwey alleges that Ekumankama did not participate in the party’s primary.

The case is expected to be determined on September 9, 2026, while the dispute has also exposed divisions between the camps of Governor Francis Nwifuru and Works Minister and former governor David Umahi.

In Adamawa, the party has faced allegations of candidate imposition, with several candidates reportedly adopted without primaries. The development has generated dissatisfaction among some members, with at least one political movement linked to the controversy resulting in a defection.

Despite the problems in several states, the APC maintains that it remains capable of resolving its internal disagreements before the 2027 elections.

In Gombe State, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya has already activated a reconciliation mechanism headed by his deputy, Manassah Jatau, directing the committee to engage aggrieved members, document their complaints and work toward their reintegration.

Yahaya has urged party members to put their differences aside and unite ahead of the election, saying the APC’s strength depends on its ability to resolve its internal disagreements.

The situation therefore presents the APC with a major task: reconciling aggrieved aspirants while maintaining the candidates now reflected in INEC’s official list.

With legal challenges still pending in several states and some dissatisfied politicians already moving to opposition parties, the coming months are expected to determine whether the APC can successfully close ranks before the 2027 campaigns intensify.