Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A prominent legal and political analyst, Abiodun Tietie, has warned that the All Progressives Congress is ceding excessive influence over its primary election processes to state governors, a trend that could undermine the rights of individual aspirants and distort internal democracy. Speaking on the growing dominance of governors in candidate selection, Tietie noted that while the party’s national leadership may consider this a pragmatic strategy to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election, it comes at a significant cost to the integrity of the party’s internal processes.
Tietie, a known commentator on electoral and constitutional matters, argued that the concentration of power in the hands of governors during primaries effectively sidelines other aspirants and reduces the primary exercise to a mere ratification of governor‑preferred candidates. This dynamic, he said, is particularly evident in states where governors have imposed consensus arrangements without the full, voluntary consent of all aspirants. “APC is ceding a lot of influence and control of its primary process to the governors. This might ensconce the position of the president, but that’s his political decision to make,” Tietie stated. “Where there is a problem is the protection of the individual rights of the aspirant.”
Tietie highlighted a critical safeguard embedded in the Electoral Act and party guidelines: the right of an aspirant to voluntarily withdraw in favour of a consensus candidate. He explained that full disclosure of the consensus process should be made available to every aspirant at the point of obtaining nomination forms. “If an aspirant voluntarily submits a withdrawal form agreeing to a consensus candidate, that is binding. But the process must be transparent. If this process is breached, the affected individual can approach the courts,” Tietie warned.
The analyst’s comments come against the backdrop of escalating internal disputes within the APC over the use of consensus to anoint candidates. In Gombe State, a fierce controversy erupted after the party’s leadership, backed by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, announced a consensus governorship candidate, Jamilu Gwamna, without the consent of other aspirants, including former Minister Isa Pantami. Pantami rejected the arrangement, insisting that the consensus was a “coronation” and that the party must conduct direct primaries. He vowed to challenge any imposition legally, even if it cost him his life. Similarly, in Kano State, tension has risen over the governor’s influence in candidate selection, with some aspirants accusing the state leadership of sidelining them.
The APC’s National Working Committee had earlier adopted direct primaries as the default mode for the 2026 nomination process, ruling out consensus except where all aspirants voluntarily and in writing agree to step down for a single candidate. However, in many states, party leaders have continued to push consensus arrangements, citing the need for unity and cost reduction. The discrepancy between the national directive and the actions of state chapters has created confusion and legal uncertainty, with several aspirants threatening litigation.
Tietie’s intervention underscores a broader concern among political observers: that the APC’s shift toward governor‑dominated primaries could lead to a wave of post‑primary legal battles, distracting the party from its campaign preparations. Already, the APC’s presidential primary has seen only one challenger to President Tinubu, Osifo Stanley, who has refused to step down despite the NWC’s endorsement of the incumbent. In states like Kogi, Zamfara, and Kaduna, similar discontent has been reported among aspirants who feel the process is rigged in favour of anointed candidates.
The legal analyst also pointed to the role of the courts as the ultimate arbiter when internal party mechanisms fail. He noted that under the 2022 Electoral Act, any aspirant who can prove that the party’s nomination process violated the Act or the party’s constitution has a right to seek judicial redress. “The courts have increasingly been willing to intervene in party affairs when clear breaches of the law or of natural justice are shown,” Tietie said. He urged aspirants to document every stage of the process and to insist on written communications.
As the APC prepares for its series of primaries scheduled from May 15 to 23, 2026, the tension between governors and other aspirants is unlikely to abate. For the party leadership, the challenge is to balance the political convenience of governor‑led consensus with the legal and moral imperative of fair, transparent primaries. For aspirants, Tietie’s message is clear: they have rights, and those rights can be enforced. Whether they choose to exercise them will determine the shape of the 2027 general election.
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