APC secretariat deserted amid deepening fallout from bitter primaries

The calm that has followed the successful submission of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential and National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done little to conceal the deep divisions left in the wake of the party’s contentious primary elections.

Although the ruling party met INEC’s deadline and officially settled uncertainty over its candidates, particularly for National Assembly seats and the vice-presidential position, Daily Sun reports that the APC National Secretariat in Abuja has remained largely deserted for months as the leadership reportedly conducts party business from undisclosed locations.

For many aspirants, the period between the primaries and the final submission of candidates was marked by anxiety, political intrigue, lobbying, protests and prolonged uncertainty as the Presidency, party leadership and the Primary Elections Appeal Committee reviewed disputed outcomes. The process reportedly left several party members frustrated, while political rivalries intensified across the country.

The once-busy APC National Secretariat has become unusually quiet, with sources claiming party officials deliberately relocated operations to avoid confrontations with aggrieved aspirants. Secretariat staff were reportedly forced to carry confidential documents outside the premises to obtain signatures from officials operating elsewhere.

Unlike previous election cycles when the headquarters served as the centre of post-primary political activity, the secretariat has remained largely inactive. Sources said the leadership initially operated from the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja before relocating again to another undisclosed venue over security concerns.

Party insiders attributed the move to fears of protests from dissatisfied aspirants who believe they were unfairly denied tickets through decisions taken after the primaries, particularly following recommendations by the Primary Elections Appeal Committee.

The situation has been linked to deep divisions involving state governors, party leaders and forces aligned with the Presidency, with several legislative candidates either disqualified or replaced despite initially emerging victorious during the primaries.

States including Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi were among those most affected by post-primary disputes.

Reacting to the crisis, African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that the APC had become a victim of the same electoral framework it allegedly promoted to weaken opposition parties.

He claimed the ruling party’s insistence on consensus and direct primaries eventually backfired, leaving many of its members politically stranded.

According to Abdullahi, the APC relied too heavily on the power of incumbency and internal political influence rather than democratic competition, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction after the primaries.

However, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka defended the process, insisting that the Appeal Committee forms part of the party’s constitutionally recognised primary election process.

Morka explained that more than 720 petitions were submitted after the primaries, with the National Working Committee carefully reviewing the recommendations before approving final candidates.

He maintained that all substitutions were legitimate outcomes of the appeal process and not acts of political manipulation.

According to him, only about four per cent of candidates who participated in the primaries were affected by substitutions, while 96 per cent retained their victories.

Despite concerns over internal discontent, Morka dismissed suggestions that the party was facing a major crisis, insisting the APC remained united and politically strong.

He said the intense competition witnessed during the primaries reflected the party’s popularity and depth, expressing confidence that influential leaders across the country would rally behind its candidates ahead of the general election.

Nevertheless, political observers believe the lingering grievances among many aspirants and party loyalists could have significant implications for the APC as it prepares for the next general election.

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