Winners of the recently concluded primary elections conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have voiced concern over delays in the issuance of Certificates of Return, urging the party leadership to provide clarity on post-primary administrative processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The aspirants, who emerged victorious across various states and elective positions, said the prolonged wait for official certification was creating uncertainty among party members despite the completion of the primaries and announcement of results by designated election committees.
Some of the aspirants, who spoke anonymously, said the situation had triggered unease within the party following varying interpretations of APC guidelines concerning the ratification of primary election outcomes.
One of the successful aspirants stated that while the primaries were duly conducted and winners announced, the delay in issuing Certificates of Return had begun to raise concerns among stakeholders.
âWe participated in the primaries and winners emerged through processes conducted by the party committees. However, many of us are still awaiting our Certificates of Return, and we believe the party should provide clarity to avoid unnecessary tension,â the aspirant said.
Another party member noted that the development had sparked discussions within APC circles over the need for improved communication regarding post-primary procedures, stressing that transparency remained vital to strengthening internal democracy within the party.
Some aspirants also compared the situation with previous presentations of Certificates of Return, including that of President Bola Tinubu after the partyâs presidential primary, calling for consistency in the recognition of all successful candidates.
The aspirants appealed to the APC leadership to ensure due process is followed and that all victorious candidates are formally recognised in accordance with established party guidelines.
