2027 APC Primaries: Appeals, Petitions Stall Release of Final Candidates’ List — National Chairman Assures Fair Review;

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has explained why the party is yet to unveil the official list of successful candidates that emerged from its recently concluded primaries ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Speaking at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Yilwatda clarified that the process remains ongoing as the party is carefully reviewing petitions, complaints, and reports submitted by aggrieved aspirants through its Appeal Committees and Legal Department before making any final pronouncements.

According to the APC National Chairman, the party is committed to ensuring transparency, fairness, and strict compliance with both the Electoral Act and APC internal guidelines.
He stressed that no candidate list would be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) until all pending issues are thoroughly addressed.

The clarification came as stakeholders from Niger South Senatorial District staged a peaceful protest at the APC National Secretariat, demanding the cancellation of the senatorial primary election conducted in the district over alleged irregularities and procedural concerns.

Representatives of the protesters alleged that the process did not reflect the wishes of party members and called on the party leadership to order a fresh and credible primary election.

They also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC national leaders to intervene in the matter to guarantee justice and internal democracy.

Responding to the concerns, Prof. Yilwatda emphasized that only aspirants who participated in the primaries possess the constitutional and legal right to challenge the outcome through the established party mechanisms.
He urged all affected aspirants to properly channel their grievances through the APC Appeal Committees for consideration.

He disclosed that reports from various appeal panels across the country are presently undergoing legal scrutiny and that every petition submitted within the stipulated timeframe would be reviewed on its merit.

The APC National Chairman assured party members that complaints involving genuine breaches of party regulations or electoral procedures would receive adequate attention and objective consideration.

According to him, once the Legal Department concludes its assessment, the findings will be forwarded to the National Working Committee (NWC), which will take the final decisions before the party officially releases and submits its list of candidates.

Prof. Yilwatda reiterated the party's commitment to due process, unity, and internal democracy, assuring members that the APC remains focused on conducting a transparent process capable of producing credible candidates for the 2027 General Elections.

The development has provided clarity on the delay in the release of the APC's final candidates' list, as party members and aspirants across the country continue to await the outcome of the ongoing review process.