According to a report by The Punch on Friday, May 8, 2026, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently navigating a wave of internal friction as the party pushes for “consensus candidates” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the national leadership aims for a unified front, heavyweights in several states are kicking against what they describe as “forced arrangements” and “imposition.”
In Katsina and Borno, the strategy appears to be working. Governor Dikko Radda and Governor Babagana Zulum have successfully rallied stakeholders to agree on single candidates to preserve party cohesion.
However, the peace is fragile elsewhere. In Zamfara, former Governor Mahmuda Shinkafi has openly rejected consensus for legislative seats, insisting on a fair contest to ensure justice for all aspirants.
The heat is particularly high in Ogun State, where a cold war between Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Gbenga Daniel has intensified.
Abiodun was recently announced as the consensus candidate for the Ogun East Senatorial district, a move Daniel claims happened after he was locked out of the meeting.
Similar resistance is brewing in Yobe, where Senator Ibrahim Bomai and others have rejected the endorsement of Baba Wali for the governorship.
Amidst these local battles, the national scene remains focused on the presidency. Vice President Kashim Shettima officially submitted President Bola Tinubu’s nomination forms on Thursday, backed by the Progressive Governors Forum.
While the party has adopted a direct primary for the presidency—allowing any challenger to face Tinubu—the state-level disputes over governorship and legislative tickets remain the biggest threat to party unity.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduling the Presidential election for January 16, 2027, the APC now races against time to resolve these internal grievances before the official primary window closes at the end of May.