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Petition outcome of results already announced
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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
What was expected to strengthen the cohesion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 general elections has instead opened deep cracks within the ruling party, as allegations of irregularities, manipulation and non-conduct of elections continue to trail the recently concluded primaries.
From the senatorial contests to the State Assembly primaries, aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders have continued to reject outcomes announced by electoral committees, insisting that the process failed to reflect the will of party members in several constituencies.
At the centre of the controversy is former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Silas Ali Agara, who contested for the Nasarawa North Senatorial District ticket under the APC platform.
Agara, who resigned his federal appointment to pursue the senate seat, lost the primary election to Governor Abdullahi Sule, whose victory was announced by the returning officer after the exercise.
However, supporters of the former NDE boss alleged that the process was marred by irregularities in several wards across the zone, a development they said undermined confidence in the internal democratic process of the party.
Though Agara has maintained public silence on the outcome, several groups loyal to his aspiration have continued to express dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election.
A party stakeholder from Akwanga Local Government Area, who spoke with journalists in Lafia, described the situation as “deeply troubling for party unity”.
“When people sacrifice and mobilise supporters believing in a transparent process, and suddenly complaints begin to emerge from different polling areas, it naturally creates suspicion and tension within the party,” he said.
The controversy was not limited to the senatorial primary.
In Nasarawa Eggon East Constituency, the serving member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Jacob Ajegana Kudu, openly rejected the outcome of the APC Assembly primary, alleging that no election was conducted in the constituency despite the eventual announcement of results.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Lafia, Kudu accused party officials of disenfranchising delegates and subverting the democratic process.
“Party members, delegates and supporters gathered peacefully in anticipation of a credible exercise, only to discover that the election did not hold,” he said.
He described the development as a dangerous precedent capable of weakening confidence among loyal party members.
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“This is not just about one individual or one constituency. It is about protecting internal democracy and ensuring that the wishes of party members are respected,” Kudu added.
Investigations revealed that similar complaints also emerged from other parts of the state, where aspirants and delegates alleged the late arrival of election materials, absence of electoral officials and poor coordination during the exercise.
In some constituencies, party members claimed that results were announced despite voting not taking place in certain wards.
The growing discontent has since triggered a wave of petitions to the APC national leadership, with aggrieved aspirants demanding investigations and cancellation of results in affected areas.
Political observers believe the crisis, if not properly managed, could deepen divisions within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 polls.
A political analyst in Lafia, Mr Danjuma Idris, warned that unresolved grievances from party primaries often create long-term consequences for political parties.
“History has shown repeatedly that most election disputes begin with party primaries. Once members feel excluded or manipulated, reconciliation becomes difficult,” he said.
He added that the APC leadership must urgently address the complaints to avoid internal fragmentation.
“The party must be seen to be fair to all aspirants. Where there are genuine complaints, there should be transparent investigations. Ignoring such issues may affect party cohesion before the general elections,” Idris stated.
Despite the protests, supporters of candidates declared winners in the various primaries have dismissed the allegations, insisting that the exercises were largely peaceful and conducted according to party guidelines.
One APC chieftain in Lafia, who defended the process, described the complaints as reactions from unsuccessful aspirants unwilling to accept defeat.
“In every political contest, there will always be disagreements, but the party followed its constitutional procedures. Those dissatisfied should seek redress through internal mechanisms instead of overheating the polity,” he said.
For many party faithful in Nasarawa State, however, the unfolding controversies have exposed widening cracks within the APC at a critical political period.
As petitions continue to pile up and consultations intensify among aggrieved camps, the coming weeks are expected to test the party’s ability to reconcile competing interests and preserve unity ahead of another major electoral cycle.
