By Opeyemi Adelakun
Fresh legal battles have erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as aspirants backed by the governors of Benue and Ondo states have dragged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the outcome of the National Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawsuits followed the failure of the preferred candidates of Governors Hyacinth Alia and Lucky Aiyedatiwa to secure the APC tickets during the recently concluded primaries.
The APC had submitted to INEC a revised list of candidates, replacing 26 high-profile aspirants—including former governors and serving members of the National Assembly—who initially emerged from the primaries with new flag-bearers.
The substitutions affected candidates in seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies across Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states after the conclusion of the party’s appeal process.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the APC and INEC to maintain the status quo in the dispute arising from the Benue State primaries.
Justice I. E. Ekwo issued the order while hearing Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026 filed by aggrieved APC aspirants from the state.
The plaintiffs are challenging what they described as attempts by the APC to alter the list of candidates that emerged from the primaries conducted in Benue and monitored by INEC.
They sought interim orders restraining the APC from substituting candidates allegedly nominated through a June 29, 2026 correspondence or any subsequent communication to INEC pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The aspirants also asked the court to compel the party to transmit to INEC the names of candidates they insisted validly emerged from the primaries.
Although Justice Ekwo declined to grant the ex parte application at the initial hearing, he subsequently ordered all parties to preserve the existing situation pending the determination of the suit.
In Ondo State, party sources disclosed that loyalists of Governor Aiyedatiwa who failed to secure APC tickets have also instituted legal proceedings challenging the outcome of the primaries.
According to multiple sources within the party, the governor allegedly advised the affected aspirants to seek judicial redress after they lost the party’s tickets despite being regarded as his preferred candidates.
The aggrieved aspirants reportedly engaged the law firm of Remi Olatubora (SAN) to challenge both the conduct of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the APC to INEC.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency) and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
Party insiders warned that the legal actions, if successful, could disrupt the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
They also disclosed that the national leadership of the party is closely monitoring the lawsuits filed by the governors’ loyalists.
A party chieftain in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, criticised the decision to challenge the primary outcome in court.
He argued that Governor Aiyedatiwa had benefited from the support of the party leadership, particularly President Bola Tinubu, and should not encourage actions capable of undermining the APC simply because his preferred aspirants failed to secure the tickets.
According to him, no election is perfect, adding that even the APC governorship primary that produced Aiyedatiwa in 2024 was disputed until President Tinubu intervened, leading Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to withdraw his court case.
The source urged the governor to place the party’s interest above personal preferences, stressing that no individual could always have their way in politics.
Meanwhile, the APC has appealed to aggrieved aspirants to embrace the party’s internal conflict resolution process rather than pursue litigation.
National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the party had activated its internal dispute resolution mechanism and was making significant progress in addressing the concerns of dissatisfied aspirants.
“The party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism is being deployed and we are making tremendous progress,” Morka said.
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