The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing a deepening internal crisis as state governors are accused of hijacking the distribution of nomination forms for the 2027 elections. Aggrieved aspirants have raised alarms that the process is being manipulated to favor preferred candidates, potentially triggering factional disputes and electoral backlash.
Presidential aspirant voices frustration
A presidential aspirant, Chief Osifo Stanley, declared in Abuja that he has been unable to obtain the party’s nomination form despite repeated efforts since last weekend. He stated that attempts to reach party officials and secure payment details proved abortive. “I made calls between Saturday and yesterday to officials of the party. The account number required to pay for the form is yet to be made available to me as we speak,” he lamented.
Investigations reveal that Stanley’s experience may be widespread. Multiple aspirants for governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly positions are reportedly facing similar challenges, raising concerns about transparency. Credible sources in some states disclosed that forms, which should have been dispatched to all 36 states since last Saturday, have yet to arrive. As of yesterday, forms had not reached Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and several other states, according to The Guardian.
Governors accused of control
A source alleged that state governors are responsible for the delay, reinforcing earlier claims that the scramble for forms has exposed deep-seated tensions. In key states, governors and their loyalists have allegedly taken control of party structures, influencing who obtains forms and who emerges as candidates. This has narrowed the political space, sidelining grassroots aspirants and those outside governors’ camps.
Party stakeholders have repeatedly warned against the “over-centralisation” of power at the state level. A party chieftain, speaking anonymously, said the situation mirrors past experiences where candidate imposition led to protests, litigation, and electoral losses. “When forms are no longer accessible to everyone and the process is skewed, you are setting the stage for crisis,” he warned.
Party leadership responds
The APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State, Olawale Sadare, confirmed that no forms had reached the state but clarified that aspirants are expected to obtain forms at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, not at the state level. Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy, debunked claims of decentralised sales, insisting that governors do not have the latitude to tamper with internal democratic processes.
Despite the hurdles, Stanley insisted that no endorsement overrides constitutional provisions. “The constitution and INEC regulations empower me to run. We all have the right to enjoy our constitutional rights,” he stated. The 50-year-old aspirant, who began his political career in the SDP and later joined the APC, emphasised his desire to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth, focusing on the economy, security, healthcare, water resources, and regional integration.
APC releases timetable amid delays
Meanwhile, the APC released its revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing the presidential primary for May 23, 2026. The sale of forms began on April 25, 2026, with submission closing on May 2. Screening of aspirants will occur from May 4 to May 8, with primaries from May 12 to May 23. Presidential aspirants will pay N100 million for forms, while governorship forms cost N50 million. Female aspirants, youths, and persons with disabilities pay only for expression of interest forms and 50% of nomination fees.
The timetable followed anxiety over delays in providing bank account details for payments. With accounts at Union Bank, UBA, and Zenith Bank now released, the process is expected to accelerate.
HURIWA warns of governors’ grip
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed concern over governors’ growing control of political parties, warning it undermines internal democracy. National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko stated that the dominance of governors over party structures weakens participation by ordinary members. “This is not democracy. This is political colonisation,” the group said, calling for urgent reforms to restore internal democracy.
HURIWA urged INEC to strengthen oversight and called on the National Assembly to enact laws discouraging undue interference. It warned that failure to address governors’ influence could distort the electoral process and weaken credibility.
Kano Central senatorial race
In Kano, two aspirants have purchased forms for the Kano Central Senatorial District: Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura and Garba Yusuf Abubakar. Zaura, who lost in 2023, expressed confidence in victory, while Abubakar, a former commissioner, is a grassroots politician recently defected from the PDP.
