Ahead of Thursday’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress, resistance to consensus arrangements has intensified across at least 10 states, with several aspirants rejecting pressure to step down and insisting on testing their popularity at the polls. 

The growing opposition comes despite efforts by party leaders and governors to streamline the primaries through endorsements, negotiations and consensus agreements aimed at preventing internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Investigations revealed that while incumbent governors in several APC-controlled states have secured consensus backing for second-term tickets, succession battles in states such as Kwara State, Gombe State, Oyo State, Adamawa State, Bauchi State, Plateau State, Lagos State, Nasarawa State, Rivers State and Yobe State remain fiercely contested.

The APC fixed the cost of its governorship expression of interest form at N10m and the nomination form at N40m. Findings showed that the ruling party generated about N5.05bn from the sale of forms to 101 governorship aspirants nationwide.

The party is scheduled to conduct governorship primaries in 28 states on Thursday, May 21, while direct primaries are expected in states where consensus arrangements fail. Appeals arising from the exercises are slated for May 24.

Consensus gains ground in some states

Despite resistance in several chapters, no fewer than 11 governors and sole aspirants have already secured overwhelming backing from party structures.

Among those who emerged as consensus candidates are Governors Sheriff Oborevwori, Abba Yusuf, Peter Mbah, Umar Namadi, Dikko Radda, Nasir Idris, Ahmed Aliyu, Dauda Lawal, Mohammed Umar Bago, Umo Eno and Ogbonna Nwifuru.

Party leaders in those states described the arrangements as strategic moves aimed at preserving internal stability and preventing factional crises.

In Sokoto State, party stalwart Abubakar Umar said members had unanimously agreed to support Governor Ahmed Aliyu for a second term, stressing that no other aspirant had emerged to challenge him.

Similarly, a Kebbi APC chieftain, Abdullahi Zuru, confirmed that Governor Nasir Idris had secured the backing of stakeholders across the state.

In Jigawa State, APC chairman MK Garba said the party had settled for Governor Umar Namadi as its sole governorship aspirant, describing the process as a continuation of the party’s consensus tradition aimed at avoiding rancour.

Kwara succession battle intensifies

Consensus efforts suffered a major setback in Kwara State, where 15 aspirants are preparing to challenge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred candidate, Yahaya Seriki.

The governor publicly endorsed Seriki after what he described as extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders. In a statement shared on social media, AbdulRazaq said Seriki possessed the capacity and political reach required to sustain the administration’s achievements.

He described Seriki as “young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded,” while noting that the endorsement did not prevent other aspirants from contesting the primaries.

The endorsement triggered a wave of support from grassroots leaders, politicians, transport unions and party structures across the state. Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, and NILD Director-General Prof. Abubakar Suleiman both stepped down from the race and pledged support for Seriki.

The Kwara chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria also endorsed the governor’s preferred candidate, while large crowds reportedly welcomed Seriki at the Tunde Idiagbon International Stadium in Ilorin shortly after the announcement.

However, party sources disclosed that several aspirants had rejected calls to withdraw, insisting that the governorship ticket should be decided through an open and democratic process.

A senior party official in Ilorin, who spoke anonymously, said many aspirants believed they had invested too much politically to surrender their ambitions through predetermined arrangements.

Kwara currently has the highest number of APC governorship aspirants in the country, including former Senate Leader Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Muhammed Belgore (SAN), Salihu Mustapha, Olufemi Sanni, Mohammed Bio and several others.

Other states record heated contests

Oyo State recorded 11 governorship aspirants, while Adamawa State has 10 contenders, reflecting heightened political activity ahead of the primaries.

Notable aspirants in Oyo include former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Akeem Agbaje and Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin.

Adamawa’s crowded field features Abdulrazak Namdas, Mustapha Salihu, Senator Aminu Abbas, Abdurahaman Haske, Felix Tangwami and Joel Madaki, among others.

In Bauchi State, eight aspirants are contesting, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Senator Shehu Buba Umar and former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.

Abia State has four aspirants, including Mascot Uzor-Kalu and Henry Ikoh, while Benue State also recorded four contenders challenging Governor Hyacinth Alia.

In Gombe State, Senator Sa’id Alkali is contesting against Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s preferred candidate, Jamil Gwamna.

Party insiders attributed the growing number of aspirants in several states to unresolved zoning disputes, succession calculations and dissatisfaction over alleged attempts to impose candidates.

Plateau, Lagos witness fresh alignments

In Plateau State, retired military officer Yilcini Bida dismissed reports that he had stepped down for Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Bida insisted he remained fully in the race and pledged to prioritise infrastructure renewal, economic development and security reforms if elected.

He also promised to strengthen Operation Rainbow, the state-owned security outfit, citing his military background as an advantage in tackling insecurity.

In Lagos State, political negotiations intensified as aspirants continued to align behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.

Governorship aspirant Samuel Ajose formally withdrew from the race on Tuesday and endorsed Hamzat, describing the decision as difficult but necessary for party unity.

His withdrawal followed a similar move by former PDP governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, who also stepped down after consultations with APC leaders.

Jandor said his decision was influenced by the endorsement of Hamzat by President Bola Tinubu and party leaders in Lagos.

However, businessman and politician Lanre Jim-Kamal has reportedly remained in the race despite mounting pressure for consensus.

APC faces balancing act

An APC list obtained by The PUNCH showed that several states, including Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Ogun and Zamfara, recorded only one governorship aspirant.

Political analysts within the party said the contrasting developments highlighted the APC’s challenge of balancing internal democracy with political stability ahead of the 2027 elections.

A source at the party’s national secretariat noted that while consensus remained the leadership’s preferred option to minimise conflict and litigation, many aspirants believed they had invested heavily both politically and financially and were unwilling to step aside without a contest.