The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday battled fresh controversy over its nomination process after allegations of candidate substitution coincided with protests in Ondo State and uncertainty among aspirants over their tickets.

The controversy came as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Obidient Movement yesterday alleged coordinated attempts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing unnamed elements within the ruling establishment of using political, legal and institutional means to frustrate credible challengers.

The APC’s National Secretariat in Abuja was deserted yesterday amid apprehension that the quiet substitution of some successful candidates from the recent primaries could provoke protests by aggrieved aspirants and their supporters.

The Guardian learnt that the National Chairman of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, convened a meeting of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) at his Abuja residence instead of the Transcorp Hilton, where he has been holed up since the contentious primary election.

Sources disclosed that the party clandestinely distributed nomination forms to avoid the anticipated backlash over the list of successful candidates, which included names that differed from those announced after the primary.

In a swift effort to douse the simmering confusion, the party denied that the list circulating on various online news platforms and social media emanated from its NWC, even as most northern states distributed nomination forms for upload by the party.

In a terse statement, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, urged members, stakeholders and the public to disregard any publication claiming to announce the winners of the primaries, describing such reports as false and unauthorised.

“The APC informs the general public that it has not released the official list of successful candidates from the recently conducted party primaries. The public is therefore advised to disregard any publication or report purporting to announce the outcome of the primaries, as such information is false and unauthorised,” the statement read.

However, investigations by The Guardian showed that the process was proceeding quietly without rancour in the North. For instance, in Gombe, Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, the party’s governorship candidate, who received the INEC nomination forms issued through the APC National Secretariat as the duly elected and certified party flag bearer, held a ceremony.

At a brief event at the Gombe Government House, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya formally presented the INEC nomination forms to Gwamna, signifying the completion of the party’s internal nomination process and the commencement of the legal process for the submission of candidates to INEC.

The situation was similar in Kano, Zamfara and Katsina states. In Kano, the APC chapter confirmed the submission of its nominated candidates to INEC.

The party had produced all its candidates through a consensus arrangement. Confirming the development to The Guardian by telephone, the state Organising Secretary, Kabiru Zawachiki, said all processes had been completed.

Zawachiki explained that the party collated the names of candidates who emerged through the consensus process and forwarded them to the party headquarters for onward transmission to INEC.

He disclosed that 40 candidates for the State House of Assembly, 24 House of Representatives candidates, three senatorial candidates and the governorship candidate had been submitted, adding that responsibility now rested with the electoral body to upload the list on its platform for public scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the ruling party, in the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, explained that successful candidates would be formally notified through its official communication channels after the conclusion of all necessary processes.

It added that Certificates of Return would be issued only in line with the party’s established procedures.

The statement further urged party faithful and the public to rely solely on official communications from the APC regarding the outcome of the primaries.

The clarification came amid growing speculation and the circulation of purported lists of candidates on social media and other platforms following the party’s primary elections.

The latest intervention by the APC was aimed at preventing confusion among aspirants and supporters while safeguarding the integrity of its nomination process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Guardian reliably learnt that the distribution of the forms, which require every successful candidate to complete their personal particulars before submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is already underway in several states, particularly those controlled by the APC.

The development has fuelled speculation that the party has concluded its nomination process internally despite withholding the official list of successful candidates, a move that has left many aspirants and their supporters uncertain about their status following the controversial primaries.

An impeccable party source disclosed that, unlike previous election cycles when the APC publicly released the names of successful candidates after the primaries, the leadership has adopted a different approach by quietly issuing Form EC9 only to candidates recognised as winners.

According to the source, the strategy was deliberately adopted to reduce tension and manage the widespread discontent that trailed the primaries, which were marred by allegations of imposition, irregularities, parallel exercises and petitions from aggrieved aspirants in several states.

“The leadership felt that publishing a comprehensive list at this stage could further inflame the situation. Instead, the recognised candidates are being contacted directly and issued the necessary nomination documents for completion before their details are uploaded to the INEC portal,” the source said.

Under the Electoral Act and INEC’s nomination guidelines, Form EC9 is a mandatory document containing the personal particulars, educational qualifications and sworn declarations of every candidate. It forms part of the documentation political parties must submit to INEC before the commission publishes the personal particulars of nominated candidates for public scrutiny.

Confirming the distribution of the nomination documents, particularly to National Assembly candidates, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to the APC National Chairman, Abimbola Tooki, disclosed that the process commenced nationwide on June 25.

Tooki, however, clarified that the party was under no obligation to publish an official list of successful candidates, contrary to the expectations of many aspirants still awaiting formal confirmation of the outcome of the primaries.

When pressed on the fate of aggrieved contestants, he declined to give a direct answer, saying only that they should “wait and see” whether they would also be issued nomination forms, a response that has further fuelled speculation over the status of some disputed candidacies.

Checks by The Guardian across several states indicate that successful candidates have indeed begun receiving Form EC9, the Personal Particulars Form required by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidates seeking to contest the 2027 general election.

Confirming the development in Lagos, the APC state chairman, Muyiwa Ojelabi, said candidates who emerged victorious in the National Assembly primaries had already been issued the forms.

Similarly, the Oyo State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Olawale Sadare, confirmed that successful candidates in the state had received their nomination documents. He added that the completed forms would subsequently be forwarded to INEC, stressing that the party had yet to release a comprehensive list of successful candidates.

In Rivers State, the APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, also confirmed that the state was participating in the ongoing nomination process.

“Yes, Rivers State is not left out of the process. Candidates who emerged victorious in our primaries have started receiving the nomination forms for onward submission to INEC,” Ikenga said.

APC supporters protest reversal of Ondo primary results, reject candidates’ substitution
THIS came as hundreds of APC women and youths staged a protest in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to overturn the results of the party’s senatorial and House of Representatives primaries in the state.

The protesters barricaded the busy Oloko Junction along the Ilesa-Akure Road, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Say no to fake appeal”, “We reject the Abuja result”, “Our votes must count” and “NWC, you can’t impose on us.”

They accused the party’s national leadership of interfering in the outcome of the primaries by substituting candidates who had emerged victorious.

In a letter dated June 29, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the APC National Chairman and National Secretary, the party forwarded what it described as its “final position” on the affected constituencies after considering and approving the reports of the primary election appeal committees.

The review resulted in major changes to the party’s ticket in the state, with two of its three senatorial candidates and six House of Representatives candidates replaced.

For the Senate, Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) replaced Dr Taiwo Fasoranti as the APC candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, while Olajide Ipinsagba emerged in place of Gbenga Elegbeleye for Ondo North Senatorial District. Isaacs Kekemeke retained the party’s ticket for Ondo South Senatorial District.

The changes in the House of Representatives races saw Timehin Adelegbe replace Kayode Adejana for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, while Okunjimi Odimayo replaced Olumuyiwa Daramola for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.

Donald Ojogo also replaced Akingboye Leke for Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, while Festus Olarewaju Akingbaso displaced Rasaq Obe in Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.

Similarly, Michael Akintomide replaced Abiola Makinde as the party’s candidate for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, while Festus Adefiranye emerged in place of Oyerinmade Matthew for Ile Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.

Addressing journalists at the protest venue, the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Seun Osamaye, described the list released by the party’s national leadership as “fake”, insisting that it did not reflect the mandate of party members.

“The women of Ondo State, women who are members of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, have come out to express our displeasure with the fake list being circulated. We consider it fake because it does not reflect the mandate of the people,” she said.

According to her, the list did not reflect the votes cast across the state’s 203 wards.

“It is a peaceful protest. We say no to mago-mago appeals. We say no to fake appeals. We say no to corner-to-corner appeals. People’s votes should count. We voted massively for our candidates, and it should reflect in the list that has been pasted,” she added.

Osamaye appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, describing him as “a president for women” and “a man who listens, a man of fair judgement, integrity, fairness, and justice.”

The APC Women Leader in Ondo State, Oluwayemisi Iji-Ayeola, also condemned what she described as injustice in the handling of the primary results.

“We are crying against injustice. We are crying against one man dictating the fate of Ondo State. We women are crying against one man changing the future of Ondo State. That is why we are out here,” she said.

Iji-Ayeola expressed disappointment over the delay in announcing the results, alleging that candidates who did not participate in the primaries were eventually declared winners.

“Ordinarily, immediately after the election, the results should have been announced. But this time around, we have waited for almost a month for the results of our candidates. Then, on Friday, surprisingly, people who were not even part of the election, people who did not contest, had their names announced,” she said.

She warned that party members would intensify their protest if the disputed results were not reviewed.

Atiku, Obidient Movement allege plot to weaken opposition ahead of 2027

MEANWHILE, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Obidient Movement yesterday alleged coordinated attempts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing unnamed elements within the ruling establishment of using political, legal and institutional means to frustrate credible challengers.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, claimed in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, that he had received “credible information” suggesting that political and legal manoeuvres were being coordinated to prevent the ADC from participating in the 2027 election.

According to him, the alleged move forms part of a broader effort to weaken the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to freely choose their next president.

“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative,” Atiku said.

He urged Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, to resist what he described as attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to determine which opposition parties should participate in the election.

“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed. If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” he asked.

Atiku warned that excluding the ADC from the electoral process would constitute one of the gravest threats to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy since the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999. He also appealed to the judiciary to resist political pressure and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations and the international community to remain vigilant against actions capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

Similarly, the Obidient Movement accused the Federal Government and the judiciary of orchestrating a campaign to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 polls, warning that continued interference with democratic institutions could erode public trust and threaten national stability.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the movement’s National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, criticised recent court pronouncements affecting the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing them as politically motivated attempts to frustrate the emergence of a credible opposition platform.

Tanko argued that the legal actions challenging the NDC’s status as a political party, coming shortly after former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi joined the party, raised serious questions about the neutrality of state institutions.

“The judiciary remains the last line of defence for democracy and social order. When citizens begin to perceive the courts as instruments of political interests rather than guardians of justice, confidence in the rule of law is inevitably weakened,” he said.

He alleged that growing support for the NDC and the wider opposition coalition had unsettled those in power, prompting attempts to restrict political competition through legal and institutional means rather than at the ballot box.

Tanko maintained that Nigeria’s democratic space must remain open and competitive and that no political group should be denied the opportunity to participate freely in the electoral process. He also accused INEC of obstructing the movement’s mobilisation efforts and called on the authorities to protect the independence of the judiciary by ensuring that the courts operate free from political pressure.

The Federal Government, INEC and the judiciary had not responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.

Bayelsa APC gains as ex-Dickson aide, thousands dump NDC

ALSO, the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress suffered a major setback in Bayelsa State yesterday as a former Political Adviser to ex-governor Seriake Dickson, Chief Fyneman Wilson, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside thousands of his supporters.

Wilson, a former member of the old Rivers State House of Assembly, attributed his exit from the party to what he described as a lack of internal democracy, alleging that major decisions in the NDC were solely determined by Dickson, the party’s national leader.

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of the party’s House of Assembly primary, alleging that his son, Felix Wilson, won the contest but that the result was overturned in favour of another aspirant.

Wilson, who resigned from the NDC last Friday, said he had warned the party leadership of the consequences of abandoning internal democracy.

He pledged to work for the success of the APC, saying he joined the ruling party to contribute to its electoral victories.

“My son, Felix Wilson, contested the House of Assembly primary in NDC and he defeated Michael (Magbisa) hands down. I met with the chairman, managing director and national leader of NDC and he told me he would look into it.

“He came to my house. I told him to go straight to the point, that my son won the primary election and if he is not declared the winner, I would leave the party. The NDC is a one-man show and it is heading nowhere,” he said.

Other leaders of the defectors, including Felix Wilson, Victor Egba and Mrs Egbuson Clement, also criticised the NDC, describing it as a one-man party. They expressed satisfaction with joining the APC and pledged to work for the party’s victory in future elections.

Welcoming the defectors in Yenagoa, Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, who represented Governor Douye Diri, described Chief Wilson as an experienced politician whose wealth of knowledge would strengthen the APC.

Akpe said the APC remained committed to internal democracy, adding that the party’s recent congresses and primary elections reflected its commitment to fairness and justice.

He expressed confidence that Wilson’s defection would boost the party’s fortunes in the 2027 elections and beyond.

Court orders INEC to issue ADA registration access code within 72 hours

Relatedly, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to generate and release the access code required for the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) to the leadership of the political association led by Chief Akin Rickett.

In a judgment delivered yesterday, Justice Peter Lifu directed INEC to issue the access code to the party’s Protem Secretary within 72 hours.

The judge also ordered the electoral body to reopen its registration portal for one week to enable the plaintiff to upload the association’s membership register and other required documents in compliance with the law.

Justice Lifu held that INEC acted unlawfully by issuing the access code to Umar Ardo, whom the court ruled was neither the recognised Protem National Chairman nor the Protem Secretary of the association.

He consequently declared the commission’s action illegal, wrongful, null and void, and set aside all steps taken by Ardo on behalf of the association.

The suit, filed by the plaintiff through counsel, Stephen Atabo, challenged INEC’s decision to issue the access code to Ardo instead of the recognised leadership of the association.

The plaintiff argued that the commission violated the law by denying the association’s recognised officials access to the registration portal while allowing Ardo to upload documents on behalf of the proposed political party.

He also asked the court to declare all information uploaded by Ardo into INEC’s portal illegal, unlawful, null and void, because it differed from the details contained in the association’s letter of intent.

In addition, the plaintiff sought an order directing INEC to release the access code to the association’s recognised leadership to facilitate the upload of its registration documents, register the association as a political party and issue it a certificate of registration.

The suit further urged the court to direct INEC to extend the deadlines of May 10, 2026, for the submission of the party’s digital membership register and May 30, 2026, for the submission of candidates.

After reviewing the submissions of all parties, Justice Lifu agreed that Ardo lacked the authority to act on behalf of the association and nullified every action taken by him in relation to the party’s registration.

Although the plaintiff had requested that INEC be given 96 hours to issue the access code, the court reduced the timeframe to 72 hours.