The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun moves to reconcile aggrieved members and restore unity in five state chapters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has deployed delegations to Benue, Oyo, Osun, Niger and Kwara to address disputes arising mainly from governorship, National Assembly and House of Assembly primaries.
The affected chapters have been characterised by internal disagreements, court cases, defections and threats by aggrieved members to leave the party.
Speaking after the APC’s retreat in Maiduguri, Borno State, the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said reconciliation was identified as a major priority as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
Basiru said the NWC and National Executive Committee (NEC) conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis of the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the exercise highlighted areas requiring intervention, particularly states where disagreements among party leaders and members remain unresolved.
In Oyo State, supporters of former Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, have reportedly not fully aligned with the governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, following the party’s primary.
Kwara has also been affected by internal disagreements involving Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and former governorship aspirant, Senator Saliu Mustapha, following the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Saliu Yakubu Danladi as the party’s candidate.
Mustapha subsequently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he secured the senatorial ticket for Kwara Central after losing his governorship and senatorial ambitions within the APC.
In Benue, disagreements between Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, have also affected the party’s unity following the outcome of the primaries.
Basiru said efforts had already been made to reconcile the different camps, adding that the NWC had resolved to intensify the process.
“In the NWC, winning elections is our work. There were robust discussions on how to strengthen the party where we are weak and consolidate where we are strong.
“We also accord priority to reconciliation. We have been to Oyo and Niger. We have identified Benue, Kwara and Osun. NWC has resolved to send representations. We have also made recommendations to the president,” he said.
The National Secretary added that the APC was currently dealing with 153 litigations across the country, although he said the figure was lower than those recorded during previous election cycles.
The party also resolved at the retreat to appoint Oladiran Iyantan, an APC chieftain from Ondo State, as National Vice Chairman (Southwest), replacing Dr Isaacs Kekemeke, who is now the party’s senatorial candidate for Ondo South.
Basiru further disclosed that the APC plans to complete the selection of party agents for the country’s 176,846 polling units by next month.
He said the agents would be selected in accordance with the Electoral Act.
On campaign activities, Basiru urged support groups operating in the states to work closely with the respective APC state chapters.