The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing internal turmoil ahead of the 2027 general elections, as tensions rise between long-standing party members and recently defected governors. The party's decision to adopt a consensus model for selecting gubernatorial candidates, particularly for new members, has sparked discontent among legacy members who feel sidelined. These older members, who helped build the party over the years, view the consensus approach as an imposition that disregards their contributions and political ambitions. According to Daily Trust, the arrangement was part of a deal with defectors, including governors, who were assured of support for their political interests upon joining the APC.
The influx of high-profile politicians into the ruling party has not translated into unity, but instead triggered power struggles across several states. In Akwa Ibom, a clash between Governor Umo Eno and Senate President Godswill Akpabio has emerged as a key flashpoint, with warnings of a "serious crisis" if one side is favoured. Delta State is also experiencing a full-scale battle for control, triggered by the entry of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Party insiders say the conflict is rooted in a broader struggle between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-aligned defectors and entrenched APC loyalists. The growing friction threatens to weaken the party's cohesion and electoral prospects.
The APC's embrace of consensus for new governors while sidelining legacy members exposes a contradiction between unity and exclusion, rewarding defection over loyalty. Old guards in Akwa Ibom and Delta now face political erasure despite years of service, while defectors like Umo Eno and Sheriff Oborevwori are positioned for re-nomination. This shift directly undermines the ambitions of long-time members who expected consideration based on past contributions. The promise of consensus has become a source of division, not cohesion.
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