Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The All Progressives Congress has set the stage for a seismic internal battle after officially notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission of its decision to conduct direct primaries across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, effectively ruling out the controversial consensus option that had become a source of friction among its ranks. In a formal communication dated May 4, 2026, the party’s National Working Committee informed the electoral body that every registered member of the APC will now have the right to vote for their preferred candidates in the upcoming primaries, a move that party spokesman Felix Morka described as a commitment to transparency and internal democracy. The directive, which caught many state chapters off guard, explicitly states that there will be no room for consensus candidacy, a method that had previously allowed party leaders to anoint candidates without competitive elections. According to a statement released by the party and obtained by Stone Reporters News, the new approach is designed to "deepen internal democracy and give every member a voice in the selection of the party’s flag bearers."
The decision to jettison consensus in favour of direct primaries did not emerge in a vacuum. It follows weeks of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations within the party’s National Working Committee, where state governors and key stakeholders had pushed for more control over candidate selection. Multiple sources within the party told Stone Reporters News that President Bola Tinubu himself intervened decisively, directing the NWC to ensure that internal democracy is protected and that no candidate is forced on members under the guise of consensus. "The President was very clear that the party must avoid unnecessary conflict. He does not want a situation where candidates are forced on members under the guise of consensus," a source close to the party leadership told Western Post. Another insider added that Tinubu stressed the importance of fairness and inclusivity, warning that where consensus fails or is rejected by any aspirant, direct primaries should be the automatic fallback. This presidential directive effectively overturned earlier plans by some state chapters to adopt consensus as the primary mode of candidate selection.
The new Electoral Act 2026, signed into law by President Tinubu in February, provided the legal framework for this shift. The Act scrapped indirect primaries entirely, leaving political parties with only two lawful options for nominating candidates: direct primaries, where all registered members vote, or consensus, which requires the written agreement of all aspirants. The removal of indirect primaries was widely seen as an attempt to curb the influence of money politics and godfatherism, as the delegate system had long allowed wealthy individuals or governors to buy votes. However, the consensus option had become a loophole through which party leaders attempted to impose candidates without competitive elections, leading to widespread discontent among grassroots members. The APC’s new directive closes that loophole by mandating direct primaries in all cases where consensus cannot be achieved unanimously. Under the party’s new rules, if even one aspirant refuses to sign off on a consensus arrangement, the process automatically reverts to direct primaries, guaranteeing that no candidate can be imposed on unwilling members.
The party has also released a detailed timetable for the primaries, following revisions approved by the National Working Committee after its 186th meeting in Abuja. According to the schedule, the sale of nomination forms began on April 25 and will end on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with submission of completed forms closing on Thursday, May 7. Screening of aspirants for legislative and governorship positions will take place between May 6 and May 8, while presidential aspirants will be screened on May 9. Primary elections will then follow a staggered sequence: House of Representatives primaries on May 15, Senate primaries on May 18, State House of Assembly primaries on May 20, governorship primaries on May 21, and presidential primaries on May 23. The party has assured all aspirants of a level playing field, noting that every registered member will have the opportunity to participate directly. The presidential nomination form has been priced at N100 million, comprising N30 million for the expression of interest form and N70 million for the nomination form, while governorship aspirants will pay N50 million.
The announcement has triggered a wave of relief among aspirants who had feared being sidelined by consensus arrangements, but it has also sparked fresh tensions in state chapters where governors and party leaders had already begun anointing candidates. In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru had championed consensus as a strategic approach to preserve party unity and reduce costs, but the new directive could force a direct primary in the state. In Gombe, a major controversy erupted after Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje rejected a consensus arrangement that had anointed a candidate for his senatorial seat, arguing that the meeting that produced the decision involved only Governor Yahaya and a limited number of aspirants. Goje insisted that the Electoral Act allows only direct primaries where consensus is not unanimous. In Katsina, disquiet has been brewing over consensus committees that some members allege were used to impose candidates loyal to Governor Dikko Umar Radda. In Taraba, a coalition of party media volunteers rejected what they called a "lopsided" consensus arrangement and called for direct primaries, warning that any attempt to impose candidates could deepen divisions.
The party has moved quickly to address these concerns, with Felix Morka assuring members that the National Working Committee has already communicated the new directive to all state chapters. In a statement released on Monday, Morka said the party remains committed to conducting a credible and transparent primary election that will further strengthen its internal democracy. He emphasized that the directive applies nationwide and that no state chapter is exempt. The party has also extended the deadlines for form sales and submissions to accommodate latecomers and ensure broader participation. As the clock ticks toward the May 23 presidential primary, the stage is now set for what promises to be one of the most fiercely contested internal elections in the party’s history, with President Tinubu expected to face challengers for the first time since the APC came to power in 2015.
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