Fresh anxiety has gripped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the party’s silence over the outcome of its screening exercise for aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections, with the political future of allies of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said to be hanging in the balance.

The uncertainty surrounding the screening report has heightened tension among supporters of several governorship aspirants, as the national leadership of the APC continues to resist pressure to release the results.

Sources within the party told The Guardian that the delay may be connected to President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Kenya, claiming that party leaders were awaiting his return before taking a final decision on the screening outcome.

Other sources, however, alleged that the APC leadership was being cautious to avoid provoking aggrieved aspirants into defecting to rival political parties.

At the APC National Secretariat yesterday, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), led by National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, were absent, further fueling concerns among camps of affected aspirants.

Efforts by The Guardian to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone line were not answered.

The absence of key NWC members deepened anxiety over the future of politicians perceived to be loyal to Fubara within the APC structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

There were also growing speculations over the modalities for the party’s proposed direct primaries.

Party sources said apprehension within the APC stemmed partly from fears that lawmakers aligned with Fubara in the Rivers State House of Assembly could face political marginalisation, disqualification, or loss of influence following the prolonged political crisis in the state.

Tension reportedly escalated after claims emerged that several aspirants believed to be loyal to Fubara failed the internal screening conducted by the party in Rivers State.

Although the APC has denied allegations of bias and maintained that the screening process complied with established procedures, the controversy has intensified speculation that Fubara’s allies may face obstacles in securing party tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, concerns are also mounting within the party over Benue State, where internal divisions linked to Governor Hyacinth Alia and other influential blocs in the APC are said to be creating fresh pressure over the screening process.

Checks by The Guardian revealed that similar fears and uncertainty persist in other politically sensitive states where succession battles, factional disputes and internal rivalries have heightened tension among aspirants seeking APC tickets.

Some party insiders warned that unresolved grievances and allegations of selective screening could deepen divisions within the ruling party if not carefully managed by the national leadership.

Sources in Abuja also linked the delay in releasing the screening results to alleged divisions within the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

According to the sources, some governors were believed to be aligning their political calculations with the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima, whose position within the party could become clearer after Tinubu’s expected emergence as the APC’s presidential candidate for 2027.

Goje dumps APC over Gombe South consensus arrangement
THE growing unease over the APC’s handling of its internal processes comes amid fresh signs of division within the party, as disagreements over candidate selection have already triggered defections and intensified factional battles in some states.

Former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, has dumped the ruling party following disagreements over the consensus arrangement adopted for the Gombe South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development followed the decision of Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, to support Jerry Damara as the APC’s consensus candidate for the senatorial district.

Goje is regarded as one of the first major casualties of the growing influence of state governors in the candidate selection process within the ruling party.

The former governor was said to have opposed the consensus option brokered by Governor Yahaya, which eventually favoured Damara for the Gombe South ticket.

Meanwhile, some incumbent senators who are former state governors have reportedly secured another opportunity to seek re-election to the National Assembly.

Among them are Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central Senatorial District and Senator Ahmad Lawan, representing Yobe North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate.

However, former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, is still facing internal opposition in his bid to secure the APC ticket for Abia North Senatorial District.

Kalu is reportedly contending with a challenge from Dr Phillips Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Abia State, within the APC, even as political alignments continue within the Labour Party over the same senatorial seat.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, was said to be divided between supporting former Ohafia Local Government Chairman, Dr David Bourdex Onuoha, and Chukwu Oko for the Labour Party ticket for Abia North.

Fear of violence grips Ondo communities over APC primaries
THE tensions within the APC have also heightened concerns over security in some states, with fears of violence resurfacing ahead of the party’s primary elections.

Uneasy calm has enveloped several communities in Ondo State following the alleged influx of suspected political thugs ahead of the All Progressives Congress primary elections scheduled to begin this week.

The development has heightened fears of a repeat of the violence that disrupted the party’s recent congresses in the state.

The APC has fixed tomorrow for its House of Representatives primary election, while the Senate and State House of Assembly primaries are scheduled for May 18 and 20 respectively.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and some members of the National Assembly from the state are reportedly locked in a political dispute over alleged attempts to deny some aspirants return tickets.

Sources within the party said the crisis worsened after the APC national leadership rejected a consensus list allegedly backed by the governor and insisted on conducting direct primaries.

The governor was said to be opposed to the direct primary option.

Residents in Owo, Akure, Idanre, Irele, Okitipupa and Akoko South West Local Government Areas expressed concern over the reported movement of unfamiliar persons into their communities ahead of the primaries.

The concern came as the ‎Ondo State Government yesterday called on members of the All Progressives Congress across the state to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly during the forthcoming party primaries.

The government said the primaries represent another important democratic process for the ruling party and urged all aspirants, party leaders and supporters to ensure the exercise remains hitch-free, transparent and devoid of violence or rancour before, during and after the polls.

In a statement, the government appealed to all stakeholders to place the interest of the party and the state above personal ambition, while urging security agencies, electoral officials and party faithful to cooperate fully in ensuring a successful and credible exercise across Ondo State.

Some residents feared that the violence recorded during the party’s congresses could recur if security agencies failed to act decisively.

During the APC congresses, suspected thugs allegedly attacked party leaders at the APC state secretariat in Akure, while the immediate past state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, was reportedly assaulted.

In Idanre, two party members were reportedly shot dead, while the younger brother of a former state chairman, Raphael Adetimehin, sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

In Owo, a party chieftain, Isiaka Elegberubon, was reportedly attacked with a machete.

A resident of Irele called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“We are afraid and calling on security agencies to be proactive. What we are hearing is frightening. We hope politicians will not turn our state into a war zone because of party tickets,” the resident said.

Another resident in Owo alleged that some councillors had threatened party members believed to be opposed to the governor’s preferred candidates.

“Since their return from a meeting with the governor in Akure on Monday, some councillors have allegedly been warning that supporters of certain National Assembly members or other aspirants should stay away on the day of the primaries.

“We all witnessed the violence during the congresses. We do not want a repeat, which is why we are appealing to security agencies to protect lives and property,” the resident added.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command said it had intensified proactive security measures across the state ahead of the political activities.

The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, on Tuesday led a show-of-force exercise to Idanre and Owo Local Government Areas alongside senior police officers, tactical commanders and other security personnel.

The operation involved the deployment of conventional police operatives, tactical teams, Police Mobile Force personnel, intelligence units and other operational assets aimed at reassuring residents of the command’s preparedness to maintain law and order before, during and after the primaries.

Advocate alleges political parties sidelining women ahead of 2027 elections
MEANWHILE, women’s rights advocate and founder of TOS Foundation Africa, Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, has alleged that political party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections are being structured in ways that systematically exclude women from leadership positions.

Ogwuche, in a statement yesterday, said women seeking elective offices were increasingly being pressured to step down in favour of consensus candidates across major political parties.

According to her, the trend cuts across the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress, among others.

She said the development reinforced concerns that Nigeria’s political system remained unfavourable to women even before elections begin.

“As political parties across Nigeria announce their primary modes and self-regulation tactics ahead of the 2027 elections, a troubling pattern is emerging, one that confirms what women in politics have long known: the system is rigged before the whistle is even blown,” she said.

Ogwuche noted that Nigeria currently ranks 180th out of 185 countries in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s global ranking of women in parliament, with women occupying only four per cent of seats in the National Assembly, compared to the global average of 26.9 per cent.

She contrasted Nigeria’s record with countries such as Rwanda, where women account for more than 60 per cent of parliamentary representation through constitutional and policy measures designed to promote inclusion.

The activist also expressed concern over the stalled Reserved Seats for Women Bill, a constitutional amendment proposal seeking additional legislative seats exclusively for women at the national and state levels.

She recalled that the bill, championed by TOS Foundation Africa in March 2025, received endorsements from President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.

Despite the endorsements, she said the bill remained stalled in the National Assembly alongside other constitutional amendment proposals.

Ogwuche argued that increasing women’s participation in governance was both a democratic necessity and an economic imperative.

Citing global studies, she said countries with higher female political representation often recorded stronger institutions, lower corruption levels and improved development outcomes.

She also referenced data from the National Democratic Institute, which indicated that women candidates in Nigeria face greater voter bias, party gatekeeping, financing challenges and intimidation than their male counterparts.

Ogwuche urged female aspirants not to yield to pressure to withdraw from political contests, but instead to build alliances and continue pushing for reforms within political parties and the wider electoral system.

“To women with the appetite to lead: do not step down. Document everything. Build coalitions. Make noise. The system will not reform itself but it can be pressured,” she stated.

She added that Nigeria could no longer afford the political and economic consequences of excluding women from governance ahead of the 2027 elections.