The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly directed candidates contesting the 2027 general elections on its platform to submit the names of their proposed polling agents directly to the party’s national secretariat, bypassing state governors amid concerns over possible internal sabotage.
The move comes against the backdrop of growing tensions between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some APC governors, particularly in the North, over the level of support being mobilised for the President’s re-election bid.
According to reports, the party leadership is concerned that some governors may be working against the interests of APC candidates by allegedly supporting opposition aspirants in the forthcoming elections.
The new arrangement reportedly represents a departure from the party’s established procedures, under which state chapters traditionally play a significant role in submitting and coordinating the selection of polling agents.
Sources within the party hierarchy disclosed that the decision followed intelligence reports suggesting that some governors were allegedly seeking to install loyalists as officially recognised APC polling agents while simultaneously supporting candidates running on opposition platforms.
The directive is said to be focused on states where the national leadership suspects that governors may be sponsoring opposition candidates against APC flag bearers in 2027.
The development comes amid concerns over the commitment of some APC governors to President Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Following his return from an overseas vacation, the President reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the efforts of some state governors to publicise the achievements of his administration.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had also previously drawn attention to the level of support the President was receiving from northern governors.
Although his media office subsequently clarified that his comments referred to the period leading up to the APC presidential primary in 2022, a serving governor from the North-West reportedly told The Guardian that the remarks reflected current divisions within the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
The governor, who is seeking re-election, reportedly said that the failure of the APC leadership to resolve lingering disagreements between the Presidency and some governors was affecting the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
According to him, several APC governors in the North were reluctant to openly campaign for President Tinubu’s re-election, despite efforts to present a united front.
He further claimed that campaign billboards in some northern state capitals displayed the President and Vice President, while similar promotional materials in smaller towns and rural communities did not feature Tinubu.
The governor also pointed to tensions within the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which is chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
According to the report, disagreements have emerged over the leadership of the forum and the responsibilities of its chairman, who also holds a position within the APC presidential campaign structure.
Some governors are reportedly pushing for Uzodimma to hand over the PGF leadership and concentrate on his responsibilities within the campaign council and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative.
However, the PGF chairman is said to maintain that the established practice is for the leadership to be handed over to a second-term governor following a general election.
The governor who spoke to The Guardian reportedly identified three major factors contributing to divisions among some northern APC governors.
These include concerns surrounding the travails of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, the President’s directive to the Ministry of Finance to publish details of government disbursements, and Tinubu’s open support for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his political coalition.
The governor reportedly suggested that the issues had further strained relations between some members of the PGF and the Presidency.
The reported decision by the APC NWC also follows allegations by a South-West political group, the Oodua Progressive Youths League, that some governors had encouraged aspirants who lost the party’s National Assembly primaries to seek tickets from opposition parties and contest against APC candidates.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Wale Abdulwaheed, the group alleged that some governors had entered into arrangements with opposition parties concerning the selection of polling agents for the 2027 elections.
The group claimed that individuals loyal to the governors, despite remaining members of the APC, could be presented as the party’s officially recognised polling agents while allegedly working against its candidates. The allegations have not been independently established.
An APC National Assembly candidate from Ondo State reportedly confirmed that the party’s national leadership had directed candidates to submit their proposed polling agents directly to the national secretariat.
The candidate, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the directive bypassed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and that the relevant forms had already been made available to candidates.
The development has drawn attention to the relationship between the party’s national leadership and state governors as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has, however, denied allegations that he directed any aspirant or candidate to contest against APC candidates under the platform of another political party.
The Ondo State governor reportedly dismissed those accusing him of anti-party activities as “naysayers, blackmailers, and slanderers.”
He insisted that he had never engaged in activities intended to undermine the APC. “I have zero tolerance for anti-party activities. I have never engaged in anti-party activities in my life,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The reported decision by the APC NWC underscores the challenges facing the ruling party as it seeks to maintain unity among its national leadership, state governors and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the party’s reported move is intended to protect its electoral interests, the allegations of internal sabotage and divisions among party leaders could present additional challenges as the APC works to consolidate support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
