Strong indications have emerged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State may adopt a consensus arrangement for its governorship primary following the postponement of the exercise for today, May, 22 2026.
The development is coming despite an earlier resolution by critical stakeholders of the party in the state supporting the direct primary option.
Recall that top APC stakeholders led by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had met in Abuja on May 7 and unanimously endorsed the direct primary method for the governorship election.
Under the direct primary system, all registered party members are expected to participate in the nomination process instead of voting through delegates. The APC national headquarters had also announced the adoption of direct primaries nationwide.
The method is widely considered less vulnerable to manipulation and eliminates the controversies often associated with delegate-based elections.
However, findings by DAILY POST suggest that the party may now be considering consensus ahead of the rescheduled primary.
Our correspondent, who monitored activities at the APC secretariat in Bauchi observed heavy security presence around the premises, but there was no sign of members of the electoral committee who are to conduct the exercise.
A senior party member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that governorship aspirants were being summoned to Abuja as part of moves to explore a consensus arrangement.
“The aspirants have been summoned to Abuja because the party is considering consensus instead of the direct primary. Since the election has been shifted to Friday, the final decision may be announced tomorrow,” the source said.
The reported move has, however, generated tension within the Bauchi APC, with some members alleging an attempt to impose a candidate on the party.
Meanwhile, one of the aspirants, Senator Shehu Buba Umar had earlier withdrawn from the race, citing alleged irregularities in the party’s primary process.
Some aggrieved stakeholders loyal to another governorship aspirants, Dr. Nura Manu Soro, stormed the hotel where members of the APC electoral committee were reportedly lodged to protest the postponement of the primary election.
Speaking during the protest, a party chieftain, Musa Buba Mohammed, accused unnamed forces within the party of attempting to undermine internal democracy through consensus rather than allowing members to vote freely.
According to him, APC members in Bauchi were only demanding a transparent and credible process capable of producing a candidate accepted across the state.
He argued that the postponement of the primary in Bauchi and Kwara states, while several other states conducted theirs, had fuelled suspicion among party supporters.
Mohammed also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow democratic principles prevail within the party, insisting that party members would only accept a process that reflects the will of the majority.
Also speaking, another APC member, Abdulaziz Nasrullah from Katagum Local Government Area, warned that imposing a candidate could trigger disunity within the party and weaken its chances in the governorship election.
He said Bauchi residents deserved a candidate chosen by the people rather than one allegedly handpicked by influential figures pursuing personal interests.
Nasrullah further stated that although party members had been informed that the primary election would now be held on Friday, many supporters were still dissatisfied over the lack of clear reasons for the postponement.
The protesting stakeholders, however, reaffirmed their commitment to the APC, insisting that their agitation was aimed at protecting internal democracy and ensuring fairness in the party’s governorship primary process in Bauchi State.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Bauchi State APC Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan Tilde, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls made to his telephone line.