Fresh tensions have erupted across several states as the ruling All Progressives Congress commences its primaries on Saturday ahead of the 2027 general elections, forcing party leaders and key stakeholders loyal to President Bola Tinubu to intensify consultations to prevent a full-blown internal crisis.
The primaries were earlier scheduled to begin on Friday (today) with House of Representatives aspirants before it was shifted to Saturday late on Friday night.
The growing unrest, which has triggered protests, collapsed consensus negotiations, and led to accusations of candidate imposition and reconciliation efforts across multiple states, comes as the APC leadership races to preserve party cohesion before the primaries gather momentum nationwide.
Concerned by the situation, President Tinubu has appealed to members, aspirants and party leaders to conduct themselves as sportsmen and
He warned that rancorous behaviour would only serve the opposition, and cautioned winners against gloating, while urging losers to accept defeat with grace.
In a personal statement he released on Thursday, the eve of the commencement of House of Representatives primaries, Tinubu said the exercises were not merely platforms to produce standard bearers but a referendum on the APC’s unity, resilience and strength as a party entering its fourth election cycle.
He said, “In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time.
“The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.”
The President made a pointed reference to a mode of political engagement he said the party had left behind, invoking it precisely to warn against its return.
“We should not play the politics of old, the do-or-die politics that we have put behind us. Politics should never be a zero-sum game. Any candidate that wins does so for all of us as a party,” he stated.
The President said wherever consensus had already been reached among aspirants, it should be maximised to reduce friction.
“I am aware that, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and our party’s constitution, leaders at various levels have initiated conversations to produce consensus candidates.
“It is a commendable option that would help in reducing rancour and bad blood among party members,” said Tinubu.
But where consensus fails, he said, members must conduct themselves with discipline.
“I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters,” the President appealed.
Tinubu directed party governors and leaders to ensure a level playing field and rise above personal sentiment.
He said, “You must rise above sentiment to offer all aspirants a level playing field that guarantees participation without let or hindrance.
“While only one person will win for every seat contested, we should give eventual losers the satisfaction of a fair contest.”
He also directed that winners and party leaders at all levels reach out to those who did not succeed with olive branches, and urged aspirants who felt aggrieved to approach the party’s redress committees rather than destabilise the process.
The President called for the inclusion of women and youth, saying, “I appeal to voters in the primaries and leaders at all levels to give special consideration to our women and youth in the contest. We cannot afford to relegate the two significant demographics of our population.”
He also issued a firm directive to security agencies deployed for the primaries, urging them to limit their role strictly to maintaining peace.
