PRIMARY ELECTIONS: How Governors Used Consensus to Sideline Popular Candidates
As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, fresh cracks are emerging within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with mounting concerns over how the party’s consensus system is being deployed to shape candidacies across key states.
Investigations by PRNigeria reveal that while the consensus model was originally designed to promote unity and reduce internal friction, it is increasingly being manipulated by powerful state actors, particularly governors, to sideline popular aspirants and consolidate political control.
The consensus arrangement, which requires the voluntary withdrawal of other aspirants in favour of a single candidate, has in several instances become less of a negotiated agreement and more of a predetermined outcome, PRNigeria gathered.
*Cases Across States*
Across multiple states, party insiders who spoke to our reporter described a pattern where state executives and political structures aligned with sitting governors subtly or overtly pressure aspirants to step down, often before any formal contest begins.
In Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Wadada has triggered quiet resistance within party ranks, with allegations that ward executives were influenced to align with the governor’s position. Some stakeholders, including former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, are said to have raised concerns over the process.
A similar scenario is unfolding in Ebonyi State, where this newspaper gathered that Governor Francis Nwifuru presided over a high-level meeting in which certain aspirants were openly presented as preferred candidates. The development drew caution from former Governor and current Minister of Works, David Umahi, who insisted that all aspirants must be allowed to purchase nomination forms without restriction.
Despite this position, party sources explained that warnings have been issued within the state chapter of the APC, suggesting that any perceived defiance of the emerging consensus could be interpreted as disloyalty.
In Adamawa State, PRNigeria reports that elders of the Gongola Peoples have openly rejected attempts to impose a governorship candidate, describing the moves as contrary to democratic principles within the party.
In Ogun State, particularly in Ijebu East, party members have also staged protests over what they allege to be the imposition of legislative aspirants, further highlighting the growing unease around the consensus mechanism.
The situation in Yobe State has equally drawn attention, where a widely circulated photograph showing Governor Mai Mala Buni raising the hand of Alhaji Baba Malam Wali, a former Secretary to the State Government, was interpreted by many as a signal that the governorship decision had effectively been settled.
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In Borno State, PRNigeria gathered that Governor Babagana Zulum’s reported backing of former Commissioner for Works, Mustapha Gubio, has not gone unchallenged, as other aspirants continue to push back against what they view as a predetermined arrangement.
Kwara State presents another layer of complexity, where Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred candidate is believed to be at odds with interests linked to the presidency, creating an unusual internal power contest.
In Gombe State, PRNigeria reports that the emergence of Jamilu Gwamna as the consensus APC governorship candidate has faced resistance from party members who argue that the process ignored aspirants with stronger grassroots appeal.
Amid these developments, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, sought to clarify the party’s official position on consensus candidacy.
*Party Leadership Reaction*
Speaking during a recent media engagement monitored by PRNigeria, Yilwatda emphasised that consensus remains a legitimate option under both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, but insisted that it cannot be imposed.
According to him, every aspirant who has purchased nomination forms must voluntarily agree in writing before a consensus candidate can be recognised.
“When it comes down to consensus, all the candidates who bought forms must sign an undertaking that they agree this person is their consensus candidate,” he stated.
He further cited the example of Osun State, where multiple aspirants reportedly agreed to adopt a single candidate through a documented consensus process, a move that allowed the party to formally notify the electoral body of its chosen method.
Yilwatda also clarified that the APC operates both consensus and direct primary systems, stressing that the choice ultimately rests with stakeholders at the state level.
“We cannot impose a method on anybody. If stakeholders do not agree on consensus, then the party will proceed with direct primaries,” he said.
On the issue of automatic tickets, which has surfaced in some political conversations, the APC chairman dismissed it as lacking any legal foundation.
“There is no provision in the Constitution, our party guidelines, or the Electoral Act for automatic tickets. It is not something that can be guaranteed,” he added.
Despite these assurances, findings by PRNigeria suggest that the reality on the ground remains far more complex, with political influence, power structures, and strategic interests continuing to shape outcomes well before formal processes begin.
As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the growing tension around consensus candidacy raises broader questions about internal democracy within the APC and whether the mechanism, in its current form, can truly balance unity with fairness.
For many party members, the concern is no longer whether consensus is legal, but whether it is still genuinely consensual.
By PRNigeria
