APC Cracks Deepen As Revised National Assembly Primaries Trigger Resistance And Delta South Court Battle

APC Cracks Deepen as Revised National Assembly Primaries Trigger Resistance and Delta South Court Battle Fresh internal divisions have emerged within the All Progressives Congress APC following the party’s revised National Assembly primaries, a development that has intensified power struggles across several states and triggered legal disputes, including a court case over the Delta South senatorial ticket. The controversy follows the party’s decision to adjust the outcome of multiple primaries after reviewing petitions submitted by aspirants, a process that led to the replacement of several previously declared winners in various constituencies. According to party communications, the changes were based on recommendations from the Primary Election Appeal Committee, which reviewed hundreds of complaints arising from the primaries and submitted findings to the National Working Committee NWC for approval.However, the revisions have sparked backlash from affected aspirants and state chapters, with some rejecting the new list and insisting on their original victories, further deepening internal fractures within the ruling party. The substitutions cut across senatorial districts and House of Representatives constituencies in multiple states, including Delta, Abia, Benue, Ondo, Kogi, and others, escalating tensions between rival political blocs and party power brokers.In several states, the revised lists have triggered open resistance from party stakeholders who argue that the changes undermine internal democracy and favour entrenched political interests. In Abia State, for instance, the state chapter of the APC openly rejected the revised nominations and insisted on retaining its original candidates, effectively setting up a parallel list and challenging the authority of the national leadership. The disagreement underscores widening divisions between state structures and the national leadership over control of party tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections. The internal crisis has also escalated into the judiciary, with a Federal High Court in Abuja fixing a hearing date in a suit challenging the outcome of the APC primary for the Delta South Senatorial District. The case was filed by a former chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission DESOPADEC, who is contesting the declaration of the party’s candidate and is asking the court to recognise him as the authentic winner of the primary and order the APC to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.The dispute highlights the intensity of intra-party rivalry in Delta State, where competing claims over primary results have long fuelled political tension within the APC structure. The latest developments add to growing concerns within the APC over post-primary fallout, with analysts warning that unresolved grievances could weaken party cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections. Similar disputes in other states have already led to protests, legal actions, and threats of defection, as aggrieved aspirants challenge the legitimacy of revised nominations and appeal decisions. Party officials, however, maintain that the review process was conducted in line with internal guidelines and electoral regulations, insisting that only properly validated candidates will eventually be submitted to INEC. With tensions still unfolding across multiple state chapters, political observers say the APC faces a delicate balancing act between enforcing internal discipline and managing competing interests among its power blocs. The Delta South court case, alongside resistance in states like Abia and others, is expected to serve as a key test of the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.