Fraud Claims, Parallel Winners and Protests Trail APC Primaries Ahead of 2027

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has been thrown into fresh internal turmoil after its week-long primary elections were marred by allegations of manipulation, ghost voting, candidate imposition and conflicting results across several states.

What was expected to reinforce President Bola Tinubu’s hold on the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections instead exposed widening cracks within the APC, with angry aspirants, protests and accusations of rigging dominating the process.

Although some candidates emerged peacefully and praised the leadership of the party, many other aspirants rejected the exercise outright.

One of the most controversial incidents occurred in Balanga and Billiri federal constituency in Gombe State, where delegates reportedly waited throughout the day without accreditation, ballot papers or voting materials.

Yet results were later announced by election officials.

Aggrieved aspirant Alfred John Attajiri described the process as an “invisible election.”

“It is deeply disturbing that results were announced for a process that never held across our constituency,” he said, citing videos and eyewitness accounts.

The APC primaries covered House of Representatives elections, Senate contests, State Assembly races and governorship primaries ahead of the party’s presidential primary scheduled for May 23.

Before voting even started, tensions had already escalated over attempts to impose consensus candidates in several states.

President Tinubu had earlier urged party members to avoid “do-or-die” politics and uphold fairness and sportsmanship during the exercise, but the controversies quickly overshadowed those appeals.

In Lagos State, the House of Representatives primaries were disrupted by allegations of intimidation and irregularities in parts of Lagos Mainland, including Apapa Road, Makoko and Iwaya.

“We reject whatever outcome emerges from today’s election because the process was flawed and manipulated,” an aggrieved member said.

In Adamawa State, aspirants and supporters protested against the alleged imposition of Kwamoti Laori for the Demsa, Numan and Lamurde Federal Constituency ticket.

Demonstrators marched with placards carrying messages such as “No to Imposition” and “Let the People Decide.”

APC stalwart Ahmadu Hamman Nasara went further, describing the process in Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency as “the end of democracy in Nigeria.”

A coalition of former lawmakers and political activists in Kaduna State also petitioned the APC national leadership over alleged irregularities and consensus arrangements during the House of Representatives primaries.

In Ondo State, aspirant Wale Omoniyi rejected the primary election for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, insisting that no valid election took place across the 23 wards.

APC stakeholder Kingsley Musa also criticised the process in Gombe, calling it “a sham wrapped in the language of democracy.”

“The consensus arrangement may have failed publicly, but in reality the consensus list was what was eventually executed,” he alleged.

The Senate primaries generated even more controversy after several contests produced massive vote margins that critics described as unbelievable.

Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly polled 230,464 votes in Imo West to defeat former Governor Rochas Okorocha, who scored 1,098 votes.

In Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege with 116,252 votes against 3,643.

Former Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa also defeated Senator Ned Nwoko by 113,309 votes to 2,612.

Observers questioned the credibility of the figures, especially under the APC’s direct primary system.

“These were not elections. They were mathematical performances,” critics argued.

Confusion also erupted in Edo South where two separate officials announced different winners for the same senatorial ticket.

One returning officer declared Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama winner, while another announced Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the successful candidate.

The Kogi Central primary generated fresh protests after former Governor Yahaya Bello reportedly emerged with 72,399 votes despite claims that he had not been screened for the contest.

Protesters stormed the APC national secretariat in Abuja, accusing Bello of violating party procedures and bringing the APC into disrepute because of his ongoing EFCC and ICPC cases.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, withdrew from the APC governorship primary in Gombe State, alleging violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and lack of transparency.

Several lawmakers and aspirants who lost their tickets have since threatened legal action, insisting the process was manipulated.

As the APC moves toward its presidential primary where Tinubu is expected to emerge unchallenged, the ruling party now faces mounting petitions, protests and growing accusations that its internal democracy has been reduced to political theatre.

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