The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing growing internal tension ahead of the 2027 general elections as aggrieved aspirants threaten anti-party actions over what many describe as manipulated primary processes. Several aspirants who spent heavily on nomination forms were either disqualified, screened out, or defeated in controversial circumstances, fueling fears of a coordinated internal revolt that could weaken the ruling party’s electoral chances.
The crisis has been worsened by provisions in the amended Electoral Act 2026, which now make political defection risky. Under the law, politicians who maintain membership in two parties face disqualification, while defection attracts penalties including a possible two-year jail term or a N10 million fine. Many affected aspirants reportedly only realized the implications after investing substantial resources in the APC primaries, leaving them politically trapped within the party.
Over 180 APC aspirants have reportedly been disqualified nationwide, while others were suspended for challenging party decisions in court. In several states, governors have been accused of imposing loyalists through the consensus arrangement, effectively sidelining rival contenders. The situation has created resentment among party members who believe internal democracy has been undermined.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda urged aspirants to accept the outcome of the primaries peacefully and warned against violence or anti-party conduct. However, internal disputes in states such as Rivers, Delta, and Imo continue to raise concerns about party unity. Political rivalries involving figures like Nyesom Wike, Siminalayi Fubara, Ifeanyi Okowa, Ned Nwoko, Hope Uzodinma and Rochas Okorocha have further exposed cracks within the party.
Despite public assurances from APC spokesman Felix Morka that the party remains stable, insiders admit there is growing frustration among genuinely aggrieved aspirants. Analysts warn that dissatisfied members working against the APC from within could pose a greater threat to the party’s 2027 ambitions than opposition parties, especially amid economic hardship and mounting political pressure nationwide.