Fresh Crisis Hits APC Over NASS List

Fresh disagreements have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the submission of its revised list of National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with some aspirants heading to court while party members in different states continue to challenge the changes.

The dispute comes as some stakeholders demand new candidates to represent their constituencies, while party leaders warn that unresolved grievances could affect the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Despite the growing tension, the APC has maintained that the matter remains an internal party issue and is being handled through its internal mechanisms.

Former senator representing Ekiti North, Ayo Arise, confirmed that he had already approached the court to challenge the outcome of the APC senatorial primary in his district. He insisted that he had won the primary election and believed the party failed to follow its own guidelines during the selection process.

According to Arise, he decided to seek legal redress immediately after the primary because he understood the timelines provided under the Electoral Act. He said he expected that his name might eventually be removed from the party’s final list, which was why he acted without delay.

He maintained that his case was not solely about reclaiming his ticket but about ensuring that political parties respect their rules and uphold democratic values. He also argued that several aspirants were persuaded to wait for decisions from the party’s national leadership instead of relying on the procedures already contained in the APC guidelines.

Arise expressed confidence that the judiciary would fairly determine whether the party acted according to its rules and maintained that he remained convinced he won the primary election.

In Ondo State, political stakeholders from Okeigbo in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area have also demanded a new representative for the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 elections.

The group said many residents were dissatisfied with the performance of the current lawmaker, citing what they described as poor representation and limited development across the constituency.

According to the stakeholders, several communities have continued to face infrastructure challenges, rising youth unemployment and a shortage of meaningful constituency projects. They also pointed to the deteriorating condition of the Okeigbo-Ifetedo Bridge, which links Ondo and Osun states, as one of the neglected projects.

The stakeholders declared their support for Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, who contested the APC House of Representatives primary, and urged the party leadership to recognise her as the rightful candidate for the constituency.

The internal disagreement follows the APC’s decision to make wide-ranging changes to its National Assembly candidates after appeals arising from the party’s primary elections.

Among those affected were former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye and several other aspirants whose names were replaced after the review process.

The revised list was forwarded to INEC in a letter signed by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru. According to the party, the National Working Committee approved the substitutions after considering the recommendations submitted by the Primary Election Appeal Committee.

Apart from Senate candidates, the APC also replaced 19 House of Representatives candidates across Benue, Kogi, Ondo, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi states, with Benue recording the highest number of changes.

Reacting to the development, APC chieftain Cletus Obun warned that the party must avoid actions that could create legal problems ahead of the elections. He noted that INEC had made it clear that candidates could only emerge through valid primary elections monitored by the electoral commission.

Obun recalled the experience of Zamfara State, where the APC lost all elective positions through court decisions after candidates were found not to have emerged from valid primaries. He cautioned that repeating such mistakes could have serious consequences for the party.

He also questioned how some aspirants who were previously disqualified later found their way onto the revised list, saying the party owed its members an explanation.

Obun disclosed that he was among those affected by the appeal process in Cross River State despite spending many years helping to build the APC. Although disappointed with the outcome, he said he remained committed to the party and hoped its leadership would eventually recognise his contributions.

He also called for the immediate establishment of a reconciliation committee to address growing dissatisfaction among party members across the country, warning that unresolved grievances could create fresh challenges for the APC before campaigns for the 2027 elections begin.

Responding to the controversy, the spokesman for the APC National Chairman, Abimbola Tooki, said the party was already addressing the issue internally and remained confident that the disagreements would be resolved through its established processes.