Resistance to consensus arrangements has intensified ahead of Thursday’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress, with aspirants in at least 10 states refusing pressure to step down for preferred candidates backed by governors and party leaders.
While several APC-controlled states adopted consensus to avoid internal disputes before the 2027 elections, succession battles remain fierce in states including Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe. The party generated about N5.05bn from the sale of nomination forms to 101 governorship aspirants nationwide ahead of the primaries scheduled for May 21.
In Kwara State, the contest has become one of the most heated in the country after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorsed businessman Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor. Despite the endorsement, several aspirants rejected calls to withdraw from the race. A senior party official said many contenders believed the governorship ticket should be decided through an open contest rather than predetermined arrangements.
The state currently has the highest number of APC governorship aspirants, with 14 contenders, including former Senate Leader Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Muhammed Belgore. Similar political tensions are also playing out in Oyo and Adamawa states, where large numbers of aspirants are battling for the party’s ticket.
In Lagos State, political negotiations intensified around Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat after governorship aspirant Samuel Ajose withdrew from the race in his favour. Ajose described the decision as difficult but necessary for party unity, saying he had chosen to support Hamzat in the interest of the APC. However, businessman Lanre Jim-Kamal has reportedly remained in the race despite pressure from party stakeholders.
Meanwhile, APC leaders in states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina have successfully secured consensus backing for incumbent governors seeking second terms. Party insiders said the leadership favours consensus to reduce conflict and post-primary litigation, but resistance from aspirants in several states could deepen internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
