The Looming Crisis that May Consume the Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State if Not Properly Managed.  4th May, 2026

BY YAKUBU MUSTAPHA BINA is a Journalist and Analyst in Minna.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged as an opposition party that took over power from the then People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after a merger of opposition groups aimed at unseating the ruling party. This was achieved in 2015 across the country and in several states, including at both national and state legislative levels. Niger State was not an exception to that unexpected tsunami that swept away the once powerful and self-acclaimed almighty PDP from government.

History is about to repeat itself if the current situation is not properly managed by the ruling APC, considering the ongoing acts of political intimidation, coercion, and the forceful sidelining of aspirants, especially credible contenders, for various positions in the state.

The imposition of candidates that contradict the interests of the majority is unacceptable, unfair, and unjust. Hence, there is a need to strictly adhere to the provisions guiding consensus and direct primaries to ensure peace, harmony, unity, and full participation.

The governor must desist from the use of veto power or the “I am the leader” approach to suppress other aspirants who are not his preferred choices. Leadership requires listening to the majority, understanding the mood of the electorate, and making accurate political judgments. As the saying goes, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” Only good leaders allow such principles to prevail, even when they contradict their personal interests.

However, with the commencement of the sale and purchase of APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, and Presidential positions, the party appears to be moving forward despite underlying and unresolved internal crises ahead of the 2027 general elections in Niger State.

The national leadership of the APC has officially notified INEC and party members of its decision to conduct direct primary elections across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The timetable for the primaries is as follows:

Presidential Primaries: Friday, 15th May to Saturday, 16th May 2026

House of Representatives Primaries: Monday, 18th May 2026

Senate Primaries: Wednesday, 20th May 2026

State House of Assembly Primaries: Thursday, 21st May 2026

Governorship Primaries: Saturday, 23rd May 2026

The national leadership of the APC has also stated clearly that there will be no consensus candidacy for any aspirant during the primaries across the states and Abuja, assuring all aspirants of a level playing field. However, how realistic this assurance will be remains to be seen.

Apparently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised National Assembly members to obtain their tickets through their respective state governors during a visit to the Presidential Villa, where they had requested automatic tickets. This directive has given governors significant influence, which could be used to sideline representatives perceived as disloyal.

Overwhelmed by the powers conferred upon them, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, while speaking to journalists, appreciated the President for entrusting them with such authority, essentially giving them the power to decide who emerges as lawmakers at all levels in their states. However, as the saying goes, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Niger State cannot claim that all is well within the APC-led administration.

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has disengaged his Special Advisers without appointing or reappointing replacements, for reasons unknown, as he remains silent on the matter. Requiring aspirants to obtain the governor’s approval before purchasing nomination forms amounts to indirect endorsement by the party leadership in the state. This raises concerns about fairness, justice, and inclusiveness, as many aspirants may not receive such approval. The governor must be more considerate in his decisions to avoid actions that could destabilize the party.

Niger State must stop pretending that there are no internal crises within the APC.

The APC may be sitting on a time bomb if governors misuse the privileges granted to them by President Tinubu to suppress the will of the majority by sidelining popular aspirants for personal interests. Such actions could trigger anti-party activities, especially after the primaries and during the general elections.

The governor should also desist from secretly anointing candidates for State and National Assembly positions, as well as Senate seats. Allegations of such practices have already begun to surface, particularly in Zone A, specifically in the Bida, Katcha, and Gbako Federal Constituency as well as in Zones B and C. As the saying goes, “There is no smoke without fire.”

It is important to note that the growing trend of dangerous endorsements by the governor undermines the fairness of the consensus process and is already manifesting in several instances within the Niger State APC.

As the leader of the APC in Niger State, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago must act as a father to all, remaining neutral and ensuring fairness, justice, inclusiveness, and participatory democracy, principles he himself advocated during his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections.

BY YAKUBU MUSTAPHA BINA is a Journalist and Analyst in Minna Niger State.