The All Progressives Congress (APC) successfully conducted governorship primaries in 25 states on Thursday but was forced to postpone the exercise in Kwara and Bauchi states and two House of Assembly constituencies in Zamfara after the party leadership failed to secure consensus arrangements, while late arrival of electoral materials also disrupted the process in Nasarawa State.
....ponements came as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s dramatic withdrawal from the Rivers governorship race on the eve of the primaries triggered outrage among his supporters, who accused powerful interests of cornering the governor politically. Meanwhile, the party constituted key election management structures for its presidential primary scheduled for Friday, May 23, 2026, appointing a committee chaired by former Senate President Pius Anyim.
The Postponements: Consensus Collapses
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced that the governorship primaries in Kwara and Bauchi states had been rescheduled to Friday, May 22, while the State House of Assembly primaries for Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies in Zamfara were moved to Sunday, May 24.
Morka attributed the postponements to the NWC’s commitment to ensuring “transparent, orderly, peaceful and credible primary election process.” But despite the official explanation, the delays immediately fuelled suspicions of manipulation and imposition among party members in both states.
Kwara: Eight Aspirants Step Down for Governor’s Choice
In Kwara State, the postponement deepened political uncertainty as intense behind-the-scenes negotiations unfolded around Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred successor, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki.
Barely hours after the postponement was announced, no fewer than eight governorship aspirants stepped down for Seriki following what party insiders described as strategic consultations designed to preserve party unity and ensure continuity of the AbdulRazaq administration.
Those who withdrew included Prof. Wale Sulaiman, Dr Mohammed Bio, Dr Toyin Alabi, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Captain Ahmad Mahmoud, Hajia Aisha Patigi, Dr Salako Oluwatoyin, and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.
Sources familiar with a Wednesday night meeting said the aspirants resolved to support Seriki “in the interest of unity and continuity,” with renewed commitments to “party cohesion, issue-based engagement and a peaceful primary process.”
Even before the postponement was officially communicated, party members had already gathered in several wards across Kwara Central for the exercise. At Adewole Ward in Ilorin West Local Government Area, supporters of various aspirants dominated the venue as chants of “Sai Yahaya” echoed repeatedly. By about 2pm, many party members began dispersing after waiting endlessly for electoral officials and materials.
At Gambari Ward II in Ilorin East, a visually impaired APC member, Abubakar Gobir, told journalists he had arrived early to participate. “We are here to exercise our civic rights as loyal party members,” he said. Another visually impaired supporter, Rufai Yusuf, declared his support for Seriki.
Confusion also trailed the process in parts of Kwara South. At Ganmo/Idofian, a party member, Adebayo Yakeen, claimed ward members improvised their own voting arrangement after electoral officials failed to arrive, but ward officials dismissed the claim, insisting materials were still being awaited.
Kwara APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, confirmed the postponement but declined to provide detailed reasons. “We don’t have details for the cancellation other than the fact that the team from the national office came and instructed that the election will be held tomorrow,” he said.
Bauchi: Supporters Storm Committee Hotel
The crisis over consensus politics exploded in Bauchi State where supporters of governorship aspirant Nura Soro staged protests over fears of alleged manipulation and candidate imposition.
The supporters stormed the hotel where members of the APC electoral committee were reportedly lodged, insisting that the process must remain transparent and credible.
Director of the Nura Soro Campaign Organisation, Dr Auwal Jada, accused unnamed interests of attempting to secretly collate and alter results. “This is the way previous primary elections were conducted. Our people are here peacefully to protect electoral materials and ensure transparency,” Jada stated.
Another supporter, Musa Buba, questioned why only Bauchi and Kwara witnessed postponements. “Why was the election postponed? There must be reasons behind it. Other states conducted their primaries, but Bauchi and Kwara were postponed. That is why many people are beginning to suspect foul play,” he said.
Buba invoked the precedent of President Tinubu’s own emergence: “The President emerged through the ballot, not through consensus. That is the same democratic process we are demanding here in Bauchi.”