Nigeria’s political temperature rose sharply on Thursday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a strong-worded appeal to members of the ruling APC ahead of the party’s nationwide primaries, warning against rancour, manipulation, and divisive conduct that could fracture the party before the 2027 general elections.
In a major State House statement released on May 14, President Tinubu described the APC primaries as more than just an internal electoral exercise, calling them “a referendum on our unity, resilience and strength as a party.”
The President’s intervention comes amid rising tensions, intense lobbying, and behind-the-scenes negotiations across states as aspirants battle for tickets into the National Assembly, governorship seats, and ultimately the presidency.
Tinubu, who reflected on the formation and growth of the APC, said the party had survived multiple election cycles because of sacrifice, consensus-building, and internal cohesion, warning members not to allow personal ambition destroy the structure they collectively built.
“We cannot afford rancorous conduct or the debasement of our democracy and party unity,” the President declared, in what many political observers see as a direct message to rival camps already locked in fierce supremacy battles ahead of the primaries.
The APC primaries are scheduled to begin with House of Representatives contests and climax with the presidential primary on May 25, 2026.
Tinubu openly endorsed ongoing consensus talks among party leaders and stakeholders, describing the arrangement as a legitimate strategy to reduce bitterness and post-primary crises. However, he acknowledged that where consensus fails, contestants must embrace democratic competition peacefully.
“There will be a winner and a loser,” he said, urging victorious aspirants not to humiliate defeated opponents while advising losers to remain loyal to the party and seek redress through internal mechanisms rather than rebellion.
In one of the most politically significant portions of the statement, the President warned party leaders, governors, and influential stakeholders against imposing candidates or manipulating the process.
He charged them to provide a level playing field for all aspirants, insisting that even those who lose should leave the process convinced that the contest was fair.
Tinubu also made a passionate appeal for greater inclusion of women and young people in the party’s leadership structure and electoral contests, stressing that the APC could not afford to sideline two of Nigeria’s largest demographics.
“The inclusion of women and youth is dear to my heart,” he stated.
The President further directed security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to remain neutral and professional during the exercise, warning them against interference in the internal affairs of the party.
“Your duties strictly centre on ensuring peaceful exercise. Nothing more,” he cautioned.
The statement is already generating reactions within political circles, with many interpreting it as an attempt by the President to calm mounting internal tensions and prevent the kind of defections and post-primary litigations that have historically weakened major political parties in Nigeria.
With high-stakes contests expected across several states and powerful political blocs battling for influence, the APC primaries are shaping up to be one of the most defining moments for the ruling party ahead of the next general election.
