By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
Fresh tension has erupted within Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as primaries for the 2027 general elections begin across the country.
The primaries, originally scheduled to start on Friday with House of Representatives aspirants, were shifted to Saturday late Friday night. The sudden change followed growing unrest in several states.
Internal disputes within the party have triggered protests, collapsed consensus talks and accusations of candidate imposition.
The development has forced party leaders and stakeholders loyal to President Bola Tinubu to intensify consultations aimed at preventing a deeper crisis within the APC.
Tinubu Warns Against Division
Reacting to the growing tension, President Tinubu appealed to party members, aspirants and leaders to remain peaceful during the exercise.
He warned that internal divisions could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement released on Thursday, Tinubu urges winners not to celebrate excessively and advised losers to accept the outcome in good faith. He stressed that politics should not be treated as a “do-or-die affair.”
President Pushes for Consensus
President Tinubu also encouraged party leaders to adopt consensus arrangements where necessary to reduce tension and strengthen party unity.
He directed governors and party officials to provide a level playing field for all aspirants participating in the primaries.
Tinubu also advised aggrieved members to use the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms instead of disrupting the process.
Call for Youth and Women Inclusion
Tinubu also called for increased participation of women and youths in the primaries. He instructed security agencies to remain neutral and focus strictly on maintaining peace during the exercise.
The APC primaries are expected to continue amid heightened political activities and intense lobbying across the country.
