Bauchi APC faces crisis over alleged candidate substitution

A new crisis has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State following allegations that several State House of Assembly candidates had their names substituted after winning party primaries.

The controversy arises shortly after the APC appointed former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to lead a reconciliation committee intended to resolve internal grievances. The new allegations of candidate imposition and lack of internal democracy have reportedly widened existing divisions within the party, which has already seen the resignation of several prominent chieftains and aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

One affected candidate, Abdulhamid Rufai, who contested for the Zungur/Galambi/Miri Constituency, alleged that despite being declared the winner of the May 21, 2026, primary and completing all necessary documentation for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), his name was missing from the final list released by the commission. Rufai claimed his name was replaced by another individual after the documentation was submitted to the APC National Secretariat.