Disqualifications, Defections & Faction Wars Shake APC Internal Democracy

A Party Screening Exercise Turns Political Flashpoint

WHAT was intended as a routine candidate screening exercise ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries has instead escalated into a widening political crisis across multiple states, raising fresh concerns about the party’s internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Across Rivers, Kogi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Ondo, and several other states, mass disqualifications of aspirants have triggered protests, legal threats, defections, and allegations of selective clearance—deepening suspicions that the exercise is being used as a tool for political exclusion rather than merit-based assessment.

Party insiders increasingly describe the situation as a struggle between “consensus engineering” and internal democratic competition.

Consensus Politics vs Internal Democracy

At the heart of the crisis is an emerging tension within the APC: whether to rely on consensus arrangements to streamline primaries or allow open competition among aspirants.

While party leadership argues that consensus reduces cost and prevents fragmentation, critics insist it is being deployed to sideline unpopular candidates and entrench loyalists of dominant political blocs.

The screening process, rather than acting as a neutral gatekeeping mechanism, is now widely perceived as a pre-primary battleground where political interests are settled in advance.

Rivers State: The Epicentre of Factional Tension

Nowhere is the crisis more visible than in Rivers State, where the screening exercise has become entangled in the long-running rivalry between political blocs aligned with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Reports indicate that several aspirants linked to Governor Fubara were disqualified, while those aligned with rival structures were cleared to proceed.

Among those affected are figures considered part of Fubara’s legislative support base, raising concerns that the governor’s influence within the party structure may be weakening ahead of 2027.

Analysts describe the Rivers situation as a “proxy war” being fought through party machinery.

Defections and Political Fallout Begin to Emerge

The screening controversy is already producing political consequences.

• In Jigawa, a former Speaker reportedly exited the party following disqualification.
• In Ebonyi and Ondo, aggrieved aspirants staged protests over exclusion.
• In Anambra, internal disputes have reportedly led to disciplinary actions against members who challenged party decisions.

These developments suggest that grievances are no longer isolated but are evolving into structural cracks within the party.

Credibility Questions Over Screening Process

Concerns have also been raised about inconsistencies in the screening exercise itself.

In Rivers, conflicting explanations emerged over the authenticity of screening outcomes, with party officials offering contradictory interpretations of the same process.

This has intensified allegations of manipulation and weakened confidence in the neutrality of internal party institutions.

A Risk of Silent Internal Rebellion

Political observers warn that the APC’s biggest threat may not come from opposition parties but from within.

Disgruntled aspirants who feel unfairly excluded could:

• Withhold campaign support
• Work indirectly against official candidates
• Defect to rival parties
• Mobilise local political resistance

Such silent rebellion, analysts say, could significantly weaken the party’s electoral strength in key states.

A Structural Problem in Party Democracy

Beyond immediate tensions, the crisis reflects a broader weakness in Nigeria’s party system: weak internal democracy.

Candidate selection processes are increasingly shaped by influence, factional loyalty, and elite bargaining rather than transparent competition.

The APC situation is therefore not isolated but symptomatic of a wider political culture where party control often outweighs grassroots legitimacy.

Rivers Politics and the 2027 Equation

The outcome of the screening exercise in Rivers State is already reshaping political calculations ahead of 2027.

With key allies of Governor Fubara disqualified and rival blocs strengthened, the balance of influence within the state APC structure appears to be shifting.

However, stakeholders warn that ignoring local ethnic and political sensitivities could deepen divisions further.

A Party at a Crossroads

The APC now faces a delicate balancing act between maintaining internal order and preserving democratic participation.

If unresolved, the current crisis could evolve from a screening dispute into a broader electoral vulnerability heading into 2027.