Report alleges governors’ preferred aspirants receive INEC nomination forms despite unresolved primary disputes; party says Appeal Committee recommendations were duly considered.
By Amarachi Odenigbo
Abuja, Nigeria | June 30, 2026
Fresh Controversy Rocks APC Over Alleged Secret Candidate Selection
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has come under renewed scrutiny following allegations that it has quietly concluded the selection of its candidates for the 2027 governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections, despite publicly denying the existence of any approved list.
The allegations, which have intensified internal tensions within the party, suggest that the National Working Committee (NWC) has already endorsed candidates in many states and commenced the distribution of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms through state party structures.
If confirmed, the development could deepen existing divisions within the APC and potentially trigger fresh legal battles from aggrieved aspirants who insist that the party’s disputed primaries were neither transparent nor conclusive.
Allegations of Quiet Endorsement
According to party sources quoted in media reports, State Working Committees (SWCs) have allegedly been directed to issue INEC nomination forms only to aspirants considered the “authentic candidates” by the party’s national leadership.
The reports claim that the exercise has been conducted discreetly to avoid public backlash from unsuccessful aspirants whose grievances remain unresolved.
The controversy follows APC primaries in several states that reportedly produced parallel congresses, rival candidates and conflicting declarations of winners, leaving many contests unresolved in the public domain.
NWC Says Appeal Committee Report Was Considered
Responding to the allegations, the media aide to the APC National Chairman, Abimbola Tooki, confirmed that the party’s Appeal Committee submitted its report to the National Working Committee.
According to him, the committee’s recommendations were reviewed and acted upon by the NWC.
“Yes, the Appeal Committee submitted its report. The NWC studied the recommendations and acted accordingly,” he reportedly said.
However, he explained that the party chose not to make the committee’s recommendations public, preferring internal mechanisms to resolve disputes arising from the primaries.
The APC has consistently maintained publicly that reports claiming an official list of approved candidates exists are false and unauthorised.
Governors Allegedly Retain Strong Influence
Political observers say one of the major concerns arising from the reports is the alleged dominance of state governors in determining party candidates.
According to sources, in the 31 states currently controlled by the APC, aspirants reportedly backed by incumbent governors have largely emerged as recipients of INEC nomination forms.
In states where the APC does not control the governorship, reports suggest that endorsements by the party’s highest-ranking federal office holders have significantly influenced candidate selection.
Although these claims have not been independently verified, they reinforce long-standing criticisms regarding the concentration of power within Nigeria’s major political parties.
Understanding the INEC Nomination Process
The controversy has also drawn attention to the distinction between party nomination forms and INEC nomination forms.
A party nomination form is used by aspirants to contest internal party primaries.
An INEC nomination form, however, is submitted after the conclusion of party primaries and formally identifies the candidate recognised by the political party for the general election.
Only candidates whose names are submitted to INEC through these nomination forms are eligible to appear on the ballot.
Consequently, whoever controls the issuance and submission of the INEC nomination forms effectively determines the party’s official candidates.
Claims of Early Preparations
The reports further allege that selected APC personnel underwent training several weeks ago to assist with uploading candidate information and nomination documents onto INEC’s electronic portal.
If accurate, such preparations could indicate that the party had substantially resolved its internal selection process before publicly announcing the outcomes.
However, neither the APC nor INEC has publicly confirmed these specific allegations.
Potential Legal Challenges
Political analysts warn that unresolved disputes arising from party primaries frequently end up before the courts.
Nigeria’s electoral history shows that internal party disagreements over candidate selection have often resulted in prolonged litigation, with courts occasionally overturning nominations or disqualifying candidates before elections.
Should dissatisfied aspirants conclude that internal appeal mechanisms have been exhausted without transparency, fresh legal challenges could emerge in the coming months.
Transparency Questions Persist
The decision not to publish the findings of the APC Appeal Committee has also generated debate among party members and political observers.
Critics argue that making the report public could have enhanced confidence in the party’s dispute-resolution process by demonstrating that complaints received from aspirants were fairly assessed.
Supporters of the party’s approach, however, contend that internal political disputes are often resolved through confidential consultations aimed at preserving party unity ahead of elections.
INEC Timetable Adds Pressure
With preparations for the 2027 general elections gathering momentum and INEC’s nomination process progressing, the APC faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that its candidate selection process complies with both its internal constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act.
How the party manages lingering grievances may significantly influence its internal cohesion ahead of what is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most competitive electoral contests.
The allegations surrounding the APC’s handling of candidate nominations have once again highlighted the persistent challenges of internal democracy within Nigeria’s political parties.
While the APC insists that its National Working Committee merely acted on the recommendations of its Appeal Committee, questions remain over the transparency of the process, the influence of powerful political stakeholders and the treatment of aggrieved aspirants.
Whether these concerns translate into reconciliation or fresh courtroom battles will become clearer as the 2027 election cycle advances and the official list of candidates is submitted to INEC.
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