APC primaries: Alia, Akume loyalists take battle to Abuja

The internal power struggle within Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) over candidate selection for the 2027 elections has escalated in Abuja, with Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia’s loyalists securing victories in recent primaries. Alia’s supporters won the Benue North-East and North-West senatorial tickets, defeating incumbent senators Emmanuel Udende and Titus Zam, while former House of Representatives member Francis Agbo secured the Benue South seat. Akume’s allies, including incumbent lawmakers Terseer Ugbor, Asema Achado, and Dickson Tarkighir, lost their bids, though Akume’s wife, Regina, won the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency ticket. The primaries, supervised by INEC officials, were declared free, fair, and transparent by the National Assembly Primary Election Committee Chairman, Saidu Mahuta. However, Akume’s camp rejected the results, alleging irregularities and petitioning the APC Appeal Committee and the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. Spokesperson Daniel Ihomun stated that aggrieved aspirants await the NWC’s final decision, calling the primaries a ‘charade’ and claiming only the presidential primary was conducted fairly. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar dismissed reports that he criticized President Bola Tinubu over APC governorship primaries in Bauchi, calling such claims false. Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru appealed to his state’s people to forgive his administration and support the APC again in 2027. The conflict traces back to May 3, 2026, when Alia and Akume reconciled after a peace meeting, though tensions resurfaced over Akume’s demand for automatic tickets for incumbent lawmakers. Alia opposed this, insisting on direct primaries for all aspirants. Tuggar, in a Hausa-language interview, reiterated the need for credible, competitive elections within the party.