APC Clears Uzodimma, Fubara as Petitions Stall Release of Primary Screening Report

Fresh controversy has trailed the screening of aspirants for the 2027 elections after the All Progressives Congress (APC) delayed the release of its primary election screening report amid a wave of petitions and internal disagreements across several states.

The ruling party, which screened thousands of aspirants seeking tickets for various elective positions, was expected to publish the list of cleared contenders on Tuesday in line with preparations for the 2027 general elections. However, party officials confirmed that unresolved petitions from different screening panels slowed down the process.

Among those reportedly cleared for the primaries are Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Oyo State Secretary to the Government, Sarafadeen Alli.

Party insiders disclosed that no fewer than 2,980 aspirants appeared before the screening committees for presidential, governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and state assembly tickets.

A senior APC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the delay became necessary to allow the party review complaints and petitions submitted after the exercise.

“We are still working on the screening report to make sure everything goes well,” the source said.

The official added that several petitions were received from the various panels and would be treated on their merit before the final report is released.

“For instance, one of the panels received 10 petitions and the petitions have to be treated properly,” the source added.

The party source also dismissed claims circulating within political circles that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara had been disqualified from the race.

“No governor has been booted out. The party has always supported its governors. Some of them like Uzodimma got automatic clearance,” the official stated.

Findings indicated that the APC leadership is pushing for consensus arrangements in some states to avoid prolonged internal disputes and possible legal battles ahead of the primaries. However, disagreements among top aspirants in some states are already threatening those plans.

“We know some of the high-profile aspirants don’t want to consent and are ready to go to court. We don’t want that,” another source within the party said.

In Oyo State, fresh uncertainty surrounded the governorship ambition of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, as sources within the party hinted that issues arising from the screening process could affect his clearance.

The same source, however, confirmed that former Senate Leader, Sarafadeen Alli, secured clearance and currently enjoys strong backing from party stakeholders in the state.

Political tensions also escalated in Ogun State where disagreements over the Ogun East senatorial ticket deepened the rift between Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governor Gbenga Daniel.

Party insiders said efforts to reach a consensus arrangement in the district had failed, with Daniel reportedly unwilling to back down.

“The matter has not been settled. Daniel is not ready to consent to consensus,” a source disclosed.

The dispute later snowballed into a public exchange between the Ogun State Government and the former governor after Daniel criticised Governor Abiodun during a political tour in Ijebu Ode.

Daniel accused the governor of neglecting Ijebuland, frustrating federal projects and contributing to the loss of the proposed Dangote refinery project in the state.

But the Ogun State Government fired back through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, who described the senator’s remarks as politically motivated.

According to the government, Daniel benefited from the same APC consensus arrangement he is now criticising.

“It is shocking that someone who benefited immensely from the collective decision of the party is now demonising the same process simply because it no longer aligns with his personal ambition,” Akinmade said.

The state government also accused the senator of anti-party activities during the 2023 elections.

Daniel’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, however, rejected claims that his principal emerged through consensus, insisting the former governor won a properly conducted primary election with an overwhelming majority of delegate votes.

The controversy over consensus arrangements also spread to Oyo State where governorship aspirants warned against any attempt to impose a candidate ahead of the APC governorship primary.

At a meeting in Ibadan attended by several aspirants, party stakeholders insisted that while they were not opposed to consensus, the process must remain transparent and democratic.

“Imposition is a betrayal of democracy, and we reject it totally,” the aspirants declared in a communiqué issued after the meeting.

They also condemned the alleged use of money and inducement to influence internal party decisions.

Meanwhile, in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa bowed to pressure from the APC National Working Committee and agreed to adopt direct primaries after earlier backing a consensus arrangement.

The governor said the state chapter of the party would comply fully with the directive of the national leadership.

As political activities intensified, the Ondo State Police Command commenced a statewide show of force to prevent violence and maintain order ahead of the APC primaries.

Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, said the operation was aimed at reassuring residents and warning criminal elements against disrupting the political process.

He stressed that the command would not tolerate political violence, intimidation or cult-related disturbances during the exercise.

Source: Vanguard