APC Aspirants File Petitions Over Alleged Primary Irregularities
Aggrieved aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have lodged petitions with the party’s national secretariat, claiming that the recent primaries were marred by irregularities. The petitions were channeled through the APC’s appeal committees, according to findings reported by Daily Trust.
In several states, party leaders and stakeholders stepped in to calm tensions and prevent the disputes from escalating further.
Zamfara State
Zamfara has seen seven court cases challenging the outcome of the APC primaries. The suits contest the emergence of Governor Dauda Lawal as the governorship candidate, Senator Ikira Aliyu Bilbis as the Zamfara Central senatorial candidate, and Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura Namoda as the Zamfara North candidate. Four additional cases involve House of Representatives tickets.
Kogi State
Chief Momoh Yusuf Obaro, who contested the Kogi Central Senatorial District primary, petitioned the APC National Working Committee, asking for the exercise to be cancelled due to alleged irregularities. Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho of Kogi East also challenged the primary, claiming non‑compliance with party guidelines and electoral laws. Meanwhile, Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West asserted that he was initially declared the winner by the returning officer, only to have his name replaced with another aspirant’s at the party secretariat.
Gombe State
Former governor and Senator Danjuma Goje is challenging the senatorial primary in which another aspirant was declared victorious. Two House of Representatives hopefuls, Alfred Attaji and Zakariya Jidda, have also filed petitions over alleged irregularities. The governorship primary in Gombe sparked controversy after former Minister of Transport Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali boycotted the process, and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Professor Isa Ali Pantami later defected to the PDP.
Ekiti State
Petitions were filed against the emergence of Senator Ayo Arise as the APC candidate for Ekiti North Senatorial District and Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo for the Ekiti North Federal Constituency II.
Edo State
Pastor Osagie Ize‑Iyamu reportedly submitted a petition to the party leadership concerning the Edo South Senatorial District ticket, alleging irregularities and insisting that he had won the primary.
About the Author
