…Party shifts House of Reps primaries to weekend amid discontent over consensus
Eshioromeh Sebastian
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday directed state governors and the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to guarantee a level playing field for all aspirants participating in the party’s primary elections.
This is even as he warned against the return of do-or-die politics that he said should be seen as a thing of the past.
The directive came as the party announced the postponement of the House of Representatives primaries from Friday to Saturday, May 16, 2026, following widespread discontent over consensus arrangements that had collapsed in several states including Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, Yobe, and Abia, leaving party leaders racing to prevent a full-blown internal crisis.
The President, in a personally signed statement issued on Thursday, addressed party members on the eve of the primaries, describing the exercises as more than a mere process to produce standard bearers. He said the primaries represented a referendum on the party’s unity, resilience, and strength as the APC entered its fourth election cycle. He stated:
“The primary elections, kicking off with those for House of Representatives aspirants tomorrow and culminating in the presidential primaries on May 25, 2026, are not mere exercises to produce our standard bearers. They are a referendum on our unity, resilience and strength as a party. They present an opportunity to renew the bond and ideals that we share.”
The President acknowledged that party leaders at various levels had initiated conversations to produce consensus candidates in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC constitution.
He described the consensus option as commendable and a useful tool for reducing rancour and bad blood among party members. But he also made it clear that where consensus fails, party members must go into the primaries as brothers and sisters. He warned against rancorous conduct, saying it would only serve the opposition. He declared:
“In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time. The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.”
The President then turned his attention directly to the governors and party leaders, demanding fairness and justice in the conduct of the primaries. He said:
“To the party leadership, our governors, and other leaders, I urge you to be fair and just. You must rise above sentiment to offer all aspirants a level playing field that guarantees participation without let or hindrance. While only one person will win for every seat contested, we should give eventual losers the satisfaction of a fair contest.”
He also directed that winners and party leaders reach out to those who did not succeed with olive branches, and urged aggrieved aspirants to approach the party’s redress committees rather than destabilise the process.
He called for special consideration for women and youth, saying the party could not afford to relegate the two significant demographics. He also issued a firm directive to security agencies deployed for the primaries, limiting their role strictly to maintaining peace.
“The police and other security agencies must remain professional and avoid acting as interlopers during this exercise. Your duties strictly centre on ensuring peaceful exercise. Nothing more,” he said.
Crises Across Multiple States
Taraba: Consensus collapses as aspirants refuse to step down
In Taraba State, the party’s consensus initiative suffered a major blow after several aspirants declined to withdraw from races across key constituencies, forcing the APC to switch to direct primaries. The state chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, set up a new committee to keep talking with unhappy aspirants, but reports from zonal teams showed that consensus had fallen apart in Takum, Donga, Ussa, Kurmi, Nguroje, and Wukari. A former lawmaker, Tukur El-Sudi, who led one of the reconciliation teams, said many aspirants turned down requests to clear the way for sitting lawmakers because they wanted a competitive pprocess.
According to reports, some aspirants initially believed the consensus push was a trick to impose certain individuals. He added that the large sums of money aspirants had already spent on mobilisation also made it hard for them to back down.
Yobe: Buni returns to salvage talks as direct primary looms
In Yobe State, the APC prepared for direct primaries after stakeholders failed to resolve their disagreements through consensus. This came after Vice-President Kashim Shettima had earlier intervened in the governorship succession battle following sharp disagreements among aspirants over alleged endorsement of favoured candidates. One of the governorship hopefuls, Senator Ibrahim Bomai, had publicly rejected any attempt to impose candidates, insisting that Yobe is not a private property and that leadership must be decided through the free and open choice of the people.
Kano: Deadlock persists across federal constituencies
In Kano State, consensus talks for House of Representatives tickets remained stuck as party leaders worked to avoid contentious primaries across the 24 federal constituencies. The Kano APC Publicity Secretary, Auwal Soja, said consultations were still happening late into Thursday night, but he admitted that direct primaries would go ahead in any area where consensus could not be reached. Despite efforts to find common ground, there were signs that some constituencies, especially Kumbotso Federal Constituency, would see competitive primaries as supporters of rival candidates demanded a vote.
Kaduna: Sani sets up reconciliation committee
In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani set up a high-powered team to handle grievances coming out of the primary process. The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the committee was meant to encourage dialogue and constructive engagement among aspirants, particularly in places where political tensions had risen. Observers linked the move to growing complaints from aspirants who felt they had been pushed aside in recent party activities.
Oyo: Protest rocks party secretariat in Ibadan
In Oyo State, angry APC members staged a protest at the party secretariat in Ibadan over what they called attempts to force candidates on them. The demonstrators accused party leaders of allowing money and influence to decide the selection process and warned that repeating the errors of the 2023 elections would further weaken the APC in the state. The state APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, confirmed the incident but claimed that hoodlums had attacked the secretariat, damaged vehicles and property, and assaulted party officials.
Abia: Kalu dismisses automatic ticket rumours
In Abia State, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, moved to calm rising tensions by rejecting speculation that some aspirants had already been given automatic tickets ahead of the primaries.
Speaking at a pre-primary stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia on Thursday, Kalu insisted that the party would not impose any candidate on members. He said every aspirant seeking an APC ticket must go through a transparent and democratic process, and that the party had offered only two options — consensus or direct primaries.
Also at the meeting, former Abia State governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, said President Tinubu had personally directed party leaders in the state to stay united and deliver Abia for the APC.
Edo: Okpebholo’s consensus push hits roadblock
In Edo State, attempts by Governor Monday Okpebholo to produce consensus candidates ran into trouble. Sources said the governor told those who rejected his preferred choices to go and face the primary election.
In Oredo Federal Constituency, the governor’s favoured aspirant, Dr Paddy Iyamu, faces Osaro Obazee, who has refused to step down. In Edo Central, the fight for Esan West/Igueben/Esan Central is between Joseph Eseigbe, who was selected as the preferred candidate, and a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, who has also refused to withdraw. In Edo North, no consensus was reached at all for the House of Representatives seats, leaving multiple aspirants in the race.
Borno and Sokoto: Smooth consensus arrangements
In contrast to the crisis in other states, Borno and Sokoto recorded relatively smooth consensus processes. In Sokoto, party leaders confirmed that affirmation exercises for consensus candidates would take place across federal constituencies.
In Borno, the APC officially adopted former Commissioner for Works, Mustapha Gubio, as its consensus governorship candidate after consultations led by Governor Babagana Zulum.
This followed the withdrawal of Senator Kakashehu Lawan from the race for the sake of party unity. Governor Zulum also announced that any aspirant who voluntarily stepped down would be considered for appointments at both the federal and state levels.
Kwara: State awaits directive from Abuja
In Kwara State, uncertainty continued over whether the APC would use direct primaries or consensus. The state APC chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, said the state chapter was waiting for instructions from the party’s national leadership in Abuja. The confusion comes amid intense political manoeuvring in the state, where about 16 governorship aspirants are said to be seeking the APC ticket.
What Next?
The APC National Secretariat had on Thursday announced the postponement of the House of Representatives primaries to Saturday, May 16, while confirming that all other dates remained unchanged.
The Senate primaries will hold on Monday, May 18, State House of Assembly on Wednesday, May 20, Governorship on Thursday, May 21, and the presidential primary on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
As the party prepares for the first primary on Saturday, all eyes will be on how governors and party leaders respond to President Tinubu’s directive for a level playing field.
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