Inside APC’s Internal Democracy Crisis: Court Battles, Endorsements & Power Struggles Across Nigeria

Growing Fault Lines Ahead of 2027

AS Nigeria’s political landscape gradually shifts toward the 2027 general elections, internal tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress are increasingly exposing deep concerns over candidate imposition, factional rivalries, disputed congresses, and allegations of weakened internal democracy across several states.

What began as isolated protests by aggrieved aspirants in Delta State has now become part of a broader national conversation about how political parties manage primaries, delegate selection, zoning arrangements, and leadership influence.

Political analysts warn that unresolved disputes within the APC could shape not only party cohesion but also voter confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Delta State: Endorsement Politics Sparks Resistance

In Delta State, tension emerged after meetings reportedly convened by party leaders to endorse preferred aspirants ahead of future primaries.

Former federal lawmaker Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai raised allegations that some APC leaders in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency planned to drastically reduce eligible delegates for primaries, a move he described as unconstitutional and aimed at disenfranchising party members.

Separate unrest also surfaced in Isoko North, where an endorsement meeting reportedly descended into chaos after some leaders backed a preferred House of Assembly aspirant.

One of the protesting aspirants, Princess Anebo, publicly rejected the endorsement arrangement, insisting that no aspirant should be imposed on party members through elite consensus.

Observers say the developments reflect broader anxieties within Delta APC following the political realignment triggered by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s movement into the APC political structure.

Timeline of Key Developments in Delta APC

• 2023: APC loses governorship election to PDP candidate Sheriff Oborevwori.
• 2024–2025: Intensified realignment talks between APC blocs and defectors.
• 2026: Endorsement controversies emerge in Ndokwa/Ukwuani and Isoko North ahead of party primaries.

Key Political Actors

• Sheriff Oborevwori
• Bola Ahmed Tinubu
• Ovie Omo-Agege
• Ned Nwoko
• Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai
• Princess Anebo

Zamfara: Court Rulings That Changed Political History

Perhaps no APC crisis illustrates the consequences of internal disorganisation more dramatically than the events in Zamfara State during the 2019 elections.

The party failed to properly conduct valid primaries before the deadline set by the electoral commission. The dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In a landmark ruling delivered in May 2019, the apex court nullified all APC votes in the state, effectively handing victory to opposition candidates despite APC’s electoral strength.

The judgment became one of the most consequential legal decisions in Nigeria’s recent political history.

Major Court Case

• Supreme Court APC Zamfara Judgment

Timeline

• October 2018: APC factions conduct parallel primaries.
• February 2019: APC wins majority votes in governorship and legislative elections.
• May 2019: Supreme Court voids APC participation due to invalid primaries.

Key Political Actors

• Abdulaziz Yari
• Mukhtar Shehu Idris
• Bello Matawalle

Analysts frequently reference the Zamfara case as a warning about the dangers of factional politics and disregard for party procedures.

Rivers State: The Long Battle of Factions

In Rivers State, the APC spent years entangled in internal disputes involving rival factions loyal to different political leaders.

The crisis weakened the party’s structure and significantly affected its electoral fortunes in the state.

A major legal confrontation revolved around the recognition of party executives and the legitimacy of congresses organised by competing blocs.

Key Court Cases

• Rivers APC factional litigation before the High Courts and Court of Appeal between 2018 and 2023.

Major Political Actors

• Rotimi Amaechi
• Nyesom Wike
• Tonye Cole

Political observers say the prolonged internal fragmentation reduced the APC’s competitiveness in Rivers despite its national influence.

Kano: Ganduje–Kwankwaso Rivalry Reshapes Party Dynamics

In Kano State, APC politics has largely revolved around the influence battle involving former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the political movement associated with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Though Kwankwaso later moved outside APC structures, his political influence continued to shape alignments and defections within Kano politics.

Timeline

• 2015–2019: APC consolidates power in Kano.
• 2022: Defections and factional tensions intensify ahead of elections.
• 2023: NNPP gains major electoral victories in Kano.

Key Issue

Analysts argue that unresolved elite rivalries weakened party cohesion and contributed to voter fragmentation.

Lagos: Consensus Politics and Grassroots Complaints

In Lagos State, criticism has periodically emerged over the dominance of consensus arrangements and influence from political power blocs during candidate selection processes.

While party leaders defend consensus as a strategy for unity, critics argue that it often sidelines grassroots participation and discourages internal competition.

Major Political Actors

• Bola Ahmed Tinubu
• Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Political analysts note that Lagos remains a critical testing ground for how APC balances discipline with democratic participation.

Internal Democracy and the Legal Question

Nigeria’s Electoral Act and party constitutions require transparent primaries and equal participation for aspirants.

However, repeated court disputes suggest many political actors still view internal party structures as arenas controlled by elite negotiations rather than open democratic competition.

Legal experts say courts increasingly play decisive roles in determining political outcomes because parties often fail to resolve disputes internally.

Some analysts warn that excessive reliance on endorsements and consensus arrangements could fuel voter apathy and defections if party members feel excluded.

What the 2027 Elections Could Reveal

With political alignments already shifting nationwide, the APC’s ability to manage internal disagreements may become one of the defining issues ahead of the 2027 elections.

Observers say the party faces a delicate balancing act:

• maintaining unity,
• preventing factional implosions,
• accommodating powerful political interests,
• while preserving the appearance and substance of democratic participation.

Whether those tensions produce reforms or deepen political fractures may shape not only the future of the APC, but also broader public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.