15/05/2026
2027: The brewing crisis of consensus in APC
By Tobore Jerome
As the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) heads into its primaries to elect candidates that will fly the flag of the party in the 2027 general election. Tension is brewing within the party across different states as regards consensus.
While some aspirants of the party in some states have accepted the decision of leaders and stakeholders as regards consensus, some other states are boiling with chaos as regards the issue of consensus.
For clarity, Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides: “The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be direct primaries or consensus.”
The section further provided that for a candidate to emerge via consensus, there must be written consent by other aspirants.
Direct primary entails that all members of the party are taking part in the selection of a candidate. Consensus means other aspirants stepping down for a sole aspirant.
Consensus in political parties refers to the adoption of candidates through negotiation and elite agreement rather than through open competitive primaries. In theory, it promotes harmony and preserves party resources. However, in practice, especially within Nigeria’s political environment, consensus often becomes synonymous with imposition by powerful blocs, governors, or party leaders. This creates a situation where ambitious politicians who feel sidelined begin to perceive the process as unfair, undemocratic, and exclusionary.
The politics of consensus, often promoted as a peaceful mechanism for internal party stability, may ironically become one of the greatest threats to the unity and survival of the All Progressives Congress ahead of future electoral contests. While consensus arrangements are designed to reduce friction, minimize costly primaries, and project party cohesion, the Nigerian political experience shows that imposed agreements frequently breed resentment, defections, and internal rebellion. Within the APC, the growing reliance on consensus politics may ultimately trigger divisions capable of weakening the party’s national dominance.
Since its formation in 2013, the APC has struggled with internal contradictions arising from its coalition nature. The party emerged from the merger of different political tendencies and interests, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). While this coalition helped the APC secure historic victory in 2015, it also created enduring internal rivalries. Consensus arrangements tend to deepen these rivalries because they often favour one bloc over another.
One major danger of consensus politics within the APC is the alienation of grassroots members and aspirants. When candidates are selected through elite negotiations rather than transparent elections, party members may feel disconnected from the process. Aspirants who invest resources, mobilize supporters, and nurture political ambitions only to be pressured into stepping down may become disillusioned. Such dissatisfaction often leads to parallel structures, anti-party activities, or outright defections.
Nigeria’s political history provides several examples where consensus arrangements generated crises rather than unity. In many states, governorship and legislative primaries conducted through consensus have produced litigation, factional conflicts, and electoral setbacks. Politicians denied tickets frequently defect to rival parties, taking along loyal supporters and weakening the party structure. The APC itself has previously suffered electoral losses in some regions due to unresolved internal disputes arising from candidate selection controversies.
The issue of consensus in the APC has already began brewing crisis within the party across different states such as Nasarawa, Delta, Cross River, Edo, Taraba, Lagos, Benue, Ogun, Rivers, Yobe, Gombe among others, whereby some persons that have been chosen as the consensus candidate of the party has been rejected by other aspirants who have vowed to fight till the end.
Another factor that may implode the crisis of consensus in the APC is the growing influence of governors and political godfathers in determining consensus candidates. In several states, governors are increasingly seen as the sole arbiters of who gets party tickets. This concentration of power undermines internal democracy and fuels accusations of authoritarianism within the party. Party members who perceive themselves as victims of political exclusion may eventually unite against dominant interests, thereby creating internal resistance movements capable of destabilizing the party.
The struggle over succession politics may further intensify the dangers associated with consensus. As the 2027 general elections approach, different power blocs within the APC are expected to compete for strategic positions, including presidential influence, governorships, and legislative leadership. Attempts to impose consensus candidates in such a tense atmosphere could provoke serious confrontations among party stakeholders. Ambitious politicians with strong regional support bases may resist elite arrangements that undermine their aspirations.
Furthermore, consensus politics may damage the democratic image of the APC. In a democracy, political parties are expected to provide equal opportunities for participation and competition. When consensus becomes a tool for suppressing dissent and limiting political participation, citizens may begin to question the party’s commitment to democratic principles. Opposition parties could capitalize on this perception by presenting themselves as more inclusive and democratic alternatives.
However, it is important to note that consensus itself is not inherently problematic. In some cases, genuine negotiations and voluntary agreements can strengthen party unity. The challenge lies in whether consensus emerges through inclusive consultation or coercive imposition. A transparent and participatory consensus process may stabilize the APC, while an exclusionary and manipulative one could accelerate fragmentation.
To avoid the crisis of consensus from imploding the APC, the APC must prioritize internal democracy, fairness, and institutional transparency. Party leaders should ensure that consensus arrangements are voluntary and backed by broad consultations among stakeholders. Aspirants should not be intimidated into withdrawal, and party members must feel that their voices matter in decision-making processes. Without these safeguards, consensus may cease to be a tool for unity and instead become the trigger for deeper political crises within the party.
The politics of consensus presents both an opportunity and a danger for the All Progressives Congress (APC). While it may temporarily reduce tensions and project unity, poorly managed consensus arrangements risk producing resentment, defections, factionalism, and electoral decline. If internal democracy is sacrificed for elite convenience, the APC may eventually face the very implosion it seeks to avoid through consensus politics.
