APC faces criticism over controversial candidate list

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing criticism from opposition parties and some political observers after changing the names of several candidates who emerged from its National Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections. The changes, which followed the party’s internal appeal process, have raised fresh concerns about internal democracy and candidate selection within the ruling party.

The controversy began after the APC released its revised list of National Assembly candidates to its state chapters alongside nomination forms for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Some aspirants who were earlier declared winners of the party’s primaries later discovered that their names had been replaced after the National Working Committee reviewed petitions submitted to the Primary Election Appeal Commission.

The revised list restored the candidacies of several serving senators across states including Kogi, Benue, Taraba and Ondo. It also replaced some candidates in other states such as Abia. One of the affected politicians was former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, whose earlier victory in the Benue North-East senatorial primary was overturned in favour of the incumbent senator, Emmanuel Udende.

The development has created disagreements within the APC in several states and has also attracted reactions from opposition parties.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the situation as another sign of confusion within the APC. The party said it would rather focus on benefiting politically from the internal disagreements instead of advising the ruling party on how to manage its affairs. It also stated that politicians who felt unfairly treated in other parties would be welcomed into the PDP.

The Labour Party also faulted the decision, saying candidates who win party primaries should not be replaced without proper justification. The party argued that replacing duly elected candidates goes against democratic principles and weakens confidence in the electoral process.

It recalled similar controversies that occurred before the 2023 elections and said the lack of consequences for such actions had encouraged a repeat of the practice.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also criticised the APC, warning that the decision could create more resentment among party members before the 2027 elections. The party maintained that it would only replace candidates if they voluntarily withdrew from the race, insisting that transparent primaries remain the best way to strengthen internal democracy.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) described the development as undemocratic but said it was mainly an internal matter for the APC. The party said Nigerians would judge whether such a system reflects the type of politics they want in the country.

However, some political groups defended the APC’s right to review its candidate list. The Obidient Movement said political parties have the constitutional authority to determine their candidates through internal mechanisms. It noted that parties are expected to resolve disputes through appeal and reconciliation processes where necessary.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress also backed the position, arguing that the Electoral Act allows political parties to handle candidate selection through recognised internal procedures. The party said changes made after reviewing complaints remain part of the party’s internal process.

Defending the revised list, APC National Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim said the changes followed recommendations from the party’s appeal committee and reflected fairness, justice and the wishes of party members. He dismissed criticism from opposition parties and advised them to focus on resolving their own internal problems instead of commenting on APC affairs.

According to the ruling party, its internal appeal mechanism exists to address complaints from members and correct any genuine mistakes made during the primary elections.

The APC also expressed confidence that its members would remain united despite the controversy, insisting that the party remains committed to democratic principles and internal fairness.