By Frontline Reporters
Ahead of Thursday’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), resistance to consensus arrangements has intensified across at least 10 states, as several aspirants refused pressure to step down and vowed to test their popularity at the polls.
The growing opposition comes despite sustained efforts by party leaders and governors to streamline the primaries through endorsements, negotiations and consensus agreements designed to prevent rancorous contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Investigations revealed that while incumbent governors in several APC-controlled states have successfully secured consensus backing for second-term bids, fierce succession battles continue to rage in states such as Kwara, Gombe, Oyo, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers and Yobe.
The APC fixed its governorship expression of interest form at N10m and nomination form at N40m. Findings showed that the ruling party generated about N5.05bn from the sale of forms to 101 governorship aspirants nationwide.
The party is expected to conduct governorship primaries in 28 states on Thursday, May 21, with direct primaries to be adopted in states where consensus arrangements collapse. Appeals arising from the exercises are scheduled for May 24.
Consensus strategy gains traction
Despite resistance in some state chapters, no fewer than 11 governors and sole aspirants have already secured overwhelming support from party structures.
Those who emerged as consensus candidates include Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Ogbonna Nwifuru (Ebonyi).
Party leaders in the affected states described the consensus arrangements as strategic steps aimed at preserving internal stability and avoiding unnecessary factional crises.
In Sokoto, APC stalwart Abubakar Umar said members had unanimously resolved to support Governor Ahmed Aliyu for a second term.
“We don’t have any other contestant apart from Governor Ahmed Aliyu. What remains is simply the ratification of his candidacy for another term,” he stated.
Similarly, a Kebbi APC chieftain, Abdullahi Zuru, confirmed that Governor Nasir Idris had secured the backing of stakeholders across the state.
“The party has agreed to present only the governor as its candidate. There is no opposition to his second-term ambition within the party,” he said.
In Jigawa, the state APC chairman, MK Garba, disclosed that the party had settled for Governor Umar Namadi as its sole governorship aspirant.
“The process will simply ratify the consensus already reached by party leaders and members,” he explained.
Kwara succession battle deepens
Consensus efforts, however, suffered a major setback in Kwara State, where 15 aspirants are preparing to challenge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred candidate, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki.
Governor AbdulRazaq had publicly endorsed Seriki as his preferred successor following what he described as extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the governor described Seriki as “young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded,” adding that the businessman and political mobiliser possessed the capacity and goodwill needed to sustain the administration’s achievements.
“While this does not in any way preclude other aspirants from contesting in the primaries, I urge members and leaders to affirm the choice of Seriki for cohesion, unity and continuous success of the party,” the governor stated.
The endorsement immediately triggered a wave of support from party leaders, grassroots mobilisers, transport unions and political blocs across the state.
Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, who withdrew from the race, congratulated Seriki and pledged his support.
Also stepping down was the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.
Several local government APC chairmen across Kwara Central and Kwara South also endorsed Seriki, while the Kwara chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria pledged support for the governor’s choice.
Tens of thousands of party supporters reportedly thronged the Tunde Idiagbon International Stadium in Ilorin shortly after the endorsement announcement.
However, despite the growing endorsements, several aspirants reportedly rejected moves to step down, insisting that the party ticket should be decided through a transparent democratic process.
A senior party official in Ilorin, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many aspirants believed the race should not be predetermined.
“The governor may have made his preference known, but many aspirants are not willing to surrender their ambitions. They believe the ticket should be determined through open contest,” the source said.
Kwara currently has one of the largest fields of governorship aspirants in the country, including former Senate Leader Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Muhammed Belgore (SAN), Salihu Mustapha, Olufemi Sanni, Mohammed Bio, Dr. Alabi Tajudeen, and Yetunde Bello, among others.
Oyo, Adamawa record crowded fields
Oyo State also recorded a crowded governorship race with 11 aspirants, while Adamawa has 10 contenders, reflecting heightened political activity ahead of the primaries.
Among notable aspirants in Oyo are former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Akeem Agbaje and Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin.
Adamawa’s lineup includes Abdulrazak Namdas, Mustapha Salihu, Senator Aminu Abbas, Abdurahaman Haske, Felix Tangwami and Joel Madaki.
Bauchi State recorded eight aspirants, among them former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Senator Shehu Buba Umar and former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.
In Abia State, the party has four aspirants, including Mascot Uzor-Kalu, Henry Ikoh, Martins Azubuike and Opah Chinemeucheya.
Benue State also recorded four aspirants — Mathias Byuan, Kuraun Isaac, Akutah Ukeyima and Terwase Orbunde — all vying against Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Gombe State has two major contenders, Senator Sa’id Alkali and Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s preferred candidate, Jamil Gwamna.
Party insiders attributed the large number of aspirants in some states to unresolved zoning arrangements, succession calculations and dissatisfaction among stakeholders over attempts to impose preferred candidates.
Plateau aspirant rejects withdrawal rumours
In Plateau State, retired military officer Yilcini Bida dismissed reports that he had stepped down for Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Speaking on Tuesday, Bida insisted he remained fully in the race and was prepared to challenge the incumbent governor at the primary.
“I want to inform the people of Plateau State that I am still in the race. Rumours are flying around that I have stepped down, but I remain fully committed to contesting the primary on Thursday,” he declared.
Bida said his administration, if elected, would prioritise infrastructure renewal, economic development and security reforms.
“On the lighting project alone, we intend to spend N1tn within one year. We are also proposing the construction of 40 kilometres of road in each local government area,” he said.
On insecurity, the retired officer promised to strengthen Operation Rainbow, the state-owned security outfit.
“As a former military officer, I understand what it takes to restore peace and security in the state. We plan to recruit personnel from rural communities to improve operational efficiency,” he added.
Lagos succession permutations intensify
Political manoeuvring also intensified in Lagos State as aspirants continued to align behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.
One of the governorship aspirants, Samuel Ajose, formally withdrew from the race on Tuesday and endorsed Hamzat.
Ajose described the decision as painful but necessary for party unity.
“In the interest of the party, I have decided to step aside and support Hamzat. We are going to be part of his campaign and play an important role,” he said.
His withdrawal came weeks after former PDP governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, also stepped down and endorsed Hamzat following consultations with APC leaders.
Jandor said his decision followed the endorsement of Hamzat by President Bola Tinubu and APC leaders in Lagos State.
“Following the endorsement of Dr. Kadiri Hamzat by our leader, the President of Nigeria, and leaders of our party in Lagos, I have decided to withdraw from the 2027 Lagos governorship race,” he stated.
However, businessman and politician Lanre Jim-Kamal has reportedly remained in the race despite mounting pressure to step down.
Jim-Kamal, who formally declared his ambition in Ikeja, unveiled a five-point development agenda alongside a proposed $50bn investment plan for Lagos State.
APC faces balancing act
An APC list obtained by Frontline Reporters showed that several states recorded only one governorship aspirant, underscoring stronger consensus structures in those chapters.
The states include Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Ogun and Zamfara.
Political analysts within the party said the contrasting developments across states highlighted the APC’s challenge of balancing internal democracy with political stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
A party source at the national secretariat noted that while consensus remained the preferred option of the leadership, resistance from aspirants in several states could trigger intense primaries and deepen internal divisions if not carefully managed.
“The party leadership prefers consensus because it reduces conflict and litigation, but many aspirants believe they have invested too much politically and financially to simply step down. That is why some states are becoming battlegrounds,” the source said.
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