**APC’s Farouk Aliyu Says Party Ready to Address Grievances From 2027 Candidate Selections**
Abuja, May 11, 2026 – In a recent appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Farouk Aliyu, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasized that the party has established mechanisms to address any discontent arising from its candidate-selection process in preparation for the 2027 general elections. He acknowledged that the party’s primaries and consensus arrangements would inevitably lead to disappointment among some aspirants, stating, “There will be broken hearts and unfulfilled ambitions.” Aliyu recognized that the emotional toll of losing a ticket is a natural aspect of competitive politics. Despite this anticipated frustration, he urged aggrieved members to maintain their loyalty to the APC, assuring them that party leaders would engage with dissatisfied aspirants through dialogue, promises of future opportunities, and, when appropriate, appointments. “The party has a mechanism for trying to appease those whose hearts are going to be broken,” he added.
Aliyu explained that the APC’s internal decision-making process is influenced by extensive consultations among party stakeholders, rather than being solely determined by state governors. He noted that while governors hold significant sway, other influential actors often play a more crucial role in finalizing candidates. “Even a governor cannot act unilaterally because there are other stakeholders more important than a governor in the state,” he remarked.
When consensus cannot be achieved, the party will resort to direct primaries. Aliyu clarified, “Where there is consensus, we go with it; where there is none, we hold direct primaries.” He reiterated that the APC is prepared to implement both strategies as dictated by the political landscape. Additionally, he pointed out the fluid nature of political promises, stating, “Politics is dynamic. Today is one thing, tomorrow another. A ticket promised by a governor may not materialize because of shifting stakeholder interests.”
The APC’s strategy, as outlined by Aliyu, aims to blend consensus-building with competitive primaries while utilizing internal communication and reward mechanisms to mitigate the fallout from excluded aspirants. This approach is intended to preserve unity as the party approaches the 2027 electoral cycle, which will encompass presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative contests across Nigeria.
These statements come at a time when the cohesion within the APC is under scrutiny, particularly as several opposition parties are also facing dissatisfaction among their aspirants. The effectiveness with which the APC balances consensus, primary elections, and post-primary reconciliation will likely impact its performance in the upcoming polls.
Comments are closed for this story.