Nigeria's APC faces internal crisis over candidate replacements ahead of 2027 elections

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has come under intense scrutiny after revising its National Assembly candidate list for the 2027 general elections. Six senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates who had initially won primaries were substituted across nine states, including high‑profile figures such as former Benue governor Gabriel Suswam and former representative Gbenga Elegbeleye. The party says the changes resulted from an internal appeal process, while opposition parties and civil society groups argue the moves breach internal democracy and electoral law.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned that parties may only replace candidates after death, withdrawal or a court order, and it dismissed a circulating poster claiming the commission had approved the swaps. Several aggrieved aspirants have filed court cases, and the APC announced plans to set up a reconciliation team to address grievances.

Parallel disputes have emerged at the state level. In Anambra, rival factions of the APC clashed over control of the party secretariat, with one group warning that forceful takeovers are illegal. Elders in Ondo and other regions have also voiced concern over the substitutions, urging the party to respect the original primary outcomes.