As Nigeria heads toward another election cycle, outgoing APC governors completing their second term are not eligible to act as party leaders during primaries — here’s why
Fact Check: Why Outgoing APC Governors Lose Party Leadership Before Primaries
ABUJA, Nigeria — As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for the 2027 general elections, a major point of internal debate has resurfaced: Can outgoing second-term governors still lead the party in their respective states?
Fact-checks on the APC’s constitution and internal hierarchy clearly indicate that they cannot.
National Working Committee Holds Supreme Party Power
Under the APC structure, the National Working Committee (NWC) — headquartered in Abuja — retains overriding authority over all state, local government, and ward chapters of the party.
The NWC, by constitutional right, dictates and supervises all party activities, including primary elections, disciplinary matters, and recognition of party leaders across states. This means no governor, regardless of political influence, can overrule or unilaterally determine candidates for elective offices.
“The National Working Committee of the party at the headquarters statutorily dictates party activities and possesses overriding powers on the state, local government, and ward chapters,” according to verified internal APC documents.
Sitting Governors Have Priority Only When Seeking Re-Election
In a state controlled by the APC, the governor and the president (if APC) serve as the official leaders of the party — but only when they are incumbents seeking re-election.
Such leaders enjoy what is known as the “first right of refusal” to contest for a second term under the APC platform before any other aspirant can emerge. However, this privilege ends once they are completing their second term.
After serving two terms, outgoing governors are barred from acting as state party leaders when primary elections approach. Their leadership automatically transfers temporarily to an acting state party leadership structure appointed by the National Party Leader (the President) or the National Working Committee.
“Any sitting governor running out of a two-term tenure who indicates interest in contesting any electoral position automatically loses his or her party leadership position at the time of declaration,” a senior APC official explained.
Why the Rule Exists
The rule is designed to guarantee internal democracy and level the playing field for all aspirants during party primaries. It prevents outgoing governors from hand-picking loyalists or manipulating candidate lists ahead of elections — a practice that has historically triggered post-primary crises in several states.
Instead, the APC insists that only true winners of transparent, accredited party primaries can make the final candidate list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This framework ensures that candidates are selected based on popular support and proven capacity to deliver votes for the party, not through political favoritism.
Implications for the 2027 Elections
With several APC governors such as Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak of Kwara State and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State among others, completing their second term ahead of the 2027 polls, the party’s internal law now bars them from influencing candidate selections or controlling party structures in their states once they show interest in another political office — Senate, House of Representatives, or ministerial ambitions.
This development could dramatically reshape the APC power structure across many states, especially those where outgoing governors have previously dominated local party machinery.
Political analysts say the move could help reduce internal tension, promote fairness, and improve the APC’s public image as a party committed to transparent internal democracy. Read More
