As Nigerians await the official nod from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for political activities to commence ahead of the 2027 general elections, no less than 10 state chapters of the major political parties in the country appear not ready for primary elections.

State chapters of political parties such as the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Labour Party, LP; and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in many states are embroiled in deep crises that appear intractable.

The cracks which started shortly after the 2023 elections have defied efforts of being cemented and the parties have continued to act along parallel lines.

In some of the state chapters, there are fears that the parties are going into the 2027 elections divided.

State chapters of parties in turmoil include Benue (APC,PDP); Katsina (PDP); Zamfara (APC); Kano (NNPP); Jigawa (PDP); Rivers (APC, PDP); Bayelsa (PDP); Niger (APC); Oyo (APC); Abia (LP); Kwara (APC); Bauchi (APC); Ogun (APC).

For the opposition political parties, the crises at the national level of their parties has made it difficult for higher authorities to intervene, hence have been left on their own.

In some cases, the problems emanate directly as results of misunderstanding arising from the local wings, having little or nothing to do with what transpires at the national secretariat of their parties.

Even within the ruling All Progressives Congress, there are frictions within its state chapters that have remained unresolved and threatening the chances of the party in the affected states.

Some experts who spoke with our correspondents attribute the cracks to power tussles among certain individuals in some states.

There?s the issue of who controls the party structure and who is the leader of the party in the state.

While some say it is understandable for the frictions within the national hierarchy of the party to affect state chapters of opposition parties, it is inexcusable for the ruling party, with all the machinery it has at its disposal, and the near absence of friction at the national level, to allow its state chapters to continue to operate without harmony.

Our correspondents highlight the issues that have brought about these divisions in the state chapters and why efforts to resolve them before the blast of INEC whistle appear a tall order.

Kano NNPP in multilayered crisis

The internal crisis within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State is a multi-layered political conflict centered on party leadership, loyalty to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and strategic control of structures ahead the 2027 elections.

The crisis deepened following the suspension and eventual expulsion of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, NNPP?s presidential candidate in 2023, by a faction of the party?s Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the party?s founder.

Kwankwaso?s expulsion was rejected by the Kano chapter and the group loyal to him, which insisted that the BoT faction lacked legitimacy to take such an action on one of the leaders of the party.

The Kwankwasiyya movement, Kwankwaso?s ideological and political base, continues to dominate the NNPP in Kano and has retained control of party structures at the state level.

The national leadership crisis created two parallel factions; one loyal to Kwankwaso and the other to Aniebonam and Agbo Major (former national chairman). Both sides have engaged in legal battles, claiming rightful control over the party?s name, logo, and leadership.

The current Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is a Kwankwasiyya loyalist who rode on the NNPP platform to victory in the 2023 elections. His government is fully aligned with Kwankwaso?s faction and has remained resistant to interference from the opposing NNPP national faction.

The NNPP crisis has affected governance, as political appointments and loyalty within the state often reflect internal party lines.

Amid the crisis, there have been speculations about mass defections and possible alliances.

Some party elders and stakeholders have called for reconciliation, warning that the division could undermine the party?s growing influence in the North and dent its chances in future elections. However, the entrenched power struggle and legal contentions have made reconciliation difficult.

The conflict pits founders against influencers, loyalists against reformers, and could reshape Nigeria?s opposition landscape if not resolved. For now, Kwankwaso remains the dominant force in Kano, but the party?s long-term stability remains uncertain without internal cohesion or legal resolution.

Efforts to speak with both party leaders ? from the factions were not successful as at the time of filing this report.

Internal squabbles threaten APC in Kwara

Despite being the ruling party in Kwara State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is grappling with widening internal divisions that threaten to undermine its stability and cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

What began as murmurs of discontent in local government areas like Offa and Ekiti has now evolved into a full-blown internal rift.

The situation is being amplified by the deepening cold war between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha, both APC stalwarts, over the 2027 governorship ticket.

From Offa to Ekiti and Ilorin, party elders, lawmakers, and founding stakeholders are pushing back against what they describe as exclusionary leadership and institutional high-handedness.

The latest flashpoint emerged in Offa, where two serving state lawmakers, Hon. Gbenga Yusuf and Hon. Seun Ogunniyi Adato, along with Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, were locked out of the APC secretariat during a scheduled stakeholders? meeting.

Reacting to the development, Offa APC Chairman, Hon. Moshood Kunle Adegboye, dissociated the party from the meeting, describing it as unauthorized.

He criticized the lawmakers for reportedly failing to seek approval and accused them of contributing nothing to the maintenance or operation of the party secretariat.

A forum of former council chairmen, led by Dele Abiodun, however, threw its weight behind the embattled Dallas over the declaration.

Abiodun and his colleagues condemned the declaration as a desperate tactic to silence critical voices within the party. ?If they think suspending Dallas will solve the problem, then they should suspend all of us. Let?s see how they plan to win the local government in 2027,? Abiodun warned.

Dallas, a key player in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq?s 2023 reelection campaign, dismissed the claims against him and accused the party leadership of allowing itself to be hijacked by unseen hands bent on sidelining founding stakeholders.

Beyond the mounting frictions at the grassroots level, a more consequential undercurrent believed to be fueling the crisis within the Kwara APC is the quiet but intensifying rivalry between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha.

Both political heavyweights hail from Kwara Central but find themselves at opposing ends of the party?s succession conversation ahead of 2027.

Insiders suggest that the governor is discreetly throwing his weight behind House Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu from Kwara North as a potential successor, an apparent bid to uphold the principle of zoning and shift the governorship outside Mustapha?s stronghold.

But Mustapha, who has steadily built a formidable support base across the state, has reportedly unsettled some of his opponents within the ruling circle with his philanthropic outreach bolstered by his calm demeanor.

While Governor AbdulRazaq has largely maintained a public posture of neutrality, some party members argue that his silence is enabling factionalism. ?There are individuals around the governor creating unnecessary enemies and alienating loyal party men,? said the leader of the forum of former council chairmen, Dele Abiodun.

However, the state APC Secretary, Alhaji Mustapha Isowo, dismissed reports of a crisis. ?What?s happening is merely internal disagreement. The party remains solidly behind the governor and focused on completing its mandate,? he said in a phone interview. He described dissenters like Oyedepo as ?self-serving elements? and said issues like the Offa secretariat incident are just internal differences that have been exaggerated.

Speaking on the unfolding situation, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Professor Hassan Saliu, said such developments are not unusual in a political party structure. He, however, cautioned against early conclusions about their impact on the 2027 elections.

?The election is still about two years away, and moreover, the main opposition PDP is also battling with a more serious crisis,? he told Weekend Trust. ?It is too early to say anything. No primaries have been held. Politics is a matter of interest, articulation, and defence. Everybody in a political process cannot be thinking alike.?

Jigawa PDP yet to heal after LG elections

A significant number of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing poor leadership and lack of direction in the PDP as reasons for their decision.

The defectors were welcomed by Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, who assured them of fairness, equity, and inclusivity within the APC. However, the Jigawa State PDP Chairman, Ali Diginsa, dismissed the defection claims, questioning the credibility of the defectors.

Diginsa also criticized Governor Namadi?s action of tearing the PDP membership cards, demanding an apology from the governor. He described the action as a personal attack on the defectors? dignity and a desecration of the party?s symbol.

The defection is the latest development in the internal crisis that has been plaguing the Jigawa PDP. A faction of the party has taken legal action to challenge the recent local government and state congress elections, alleging that the processes were marred by irregularities and didn?t follow the party?s guidelines and constitution.

Alhaji Abbas Anas Adamu, a PDP chieftain, claimed that the party leadership has been a ?one-man show,? denying other members equal rights and privileges. He said that the party leadership should be fair to all, to avoid problems.

The case was filed before the Federal High Court in Dutse, and the court has fixed May 28 for mention. The PDP faction is seeking to quash the congresses and order fresh elections.

Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, has emphasized the need for reconciliation within the PDP to save the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. He called on leaders and members to resolve internal disputes and foster unity.

The mass defection and internal crisis have raised concerns about the future of the PDP in Jigawa State. The party?s ability to resolve its internal disputes and present a united front will be crucial in determining its prospects in future elections.

Benue: More cracks in PDP, APC

Undoubtedly, the internal crisis rocking both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples? Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State are casting long shadows over their prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Both parties are embroiled in bitter leadership tussles that may erode public confidence and fragment their grassroots support, especially if the rifts remain unresolved.

In the PDP, deep divisions between two powerful camps led by former governors Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom, each vying for control of the party?s structure in the state surfaced in the build-up to their ward, local and state congresses.

The disagreement became evident when the newly inaugurated State Working Committee (SWC), reportedly loyal to former Governor Ortom, was locked out of the PDP state secretariat in Makurdi ? a building owned by ex-Governor Suswam ? while attempting to receive handover notes from the outgoing caretaker committee, prompting Ortom to donate his own building at the High Level area of Makurdi for party activities.

Consequently, the crisis worsened after a faction loyal to Suswam led by elder statesman Terngu Tsegba accused the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) of manipulating the conducted ward and local government congresses just as the situation was further complicated when the NWC allegedly flouted a court order halting the congresses.

The party in the state now operates from two secretariats with Suswam?s faction aligning with the APC?s incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia, while Ortom is courting the faction loyal to Senator George Akume of the APC.

Observers believe the party?s fragmentation was the reason it failed to make any meaningful impact during the local government elections held in October last year.

However, recent developments suggest that the Suswam-led faction may be considering joining the widely discussed coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is being championed by PDP?s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, alongside other prominent national politicians.

Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Tim Nyor, said the party was doing all it can to possibly close the existing gap among the rivalry factions, expectedly before the next general election.

?We have a reconciliatory mandate from the Chairman of the party, Ezekiel Adaji, and in accordance with that charge, we have kept our doors open. Our hands are stretched out to receive back to the party all aggrieved members. We have reached out to many. We even formed a reconciliatory committee tasked with the singular responsibility of uniting all and sundry.

?Notwithstanding, we are also aware of the intention of a few to join the coalition or other parties they find suitable to actualise their private ambitions. To such, we can only bid farewell.

On the other hand, the APC has fared no better occasioned by the fierce rivalry between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, which over the past two years plunged the party into its own leadership crisis.

In a bid to restore order, the national secretariat of APC constituted a caretaker committee that merged loyalists from both camps. But the effort appears to have hit a wall.

The Akume faction has rejected the legitimacy of the committee chaired by Benjamin Omale and supported with membership including Prof. Bem Angwe.

Factional spokesperson, Daniel Ihomun, insisted that a subsisting court order invalidates any purported dissolution of the existing state structure, asserting that the National Working Committee (NWC) or even the National Executive Committee (NEC) lacks the authority to override a court ruling.

Ihomun told our correspondent in Makurdi that, ?It is true that our party has faced factional challenges in Benue State, largely due to the actions of Governor Hyacinth Alia, who appointed Hon. Benjamin Omakolo as an APC Chairman ? an illegal move which is not in line with the party?s constitution.

But the governor few days ago through his spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, said he has no plan to defect from APC as insinuated in some quarters while also dismissing alleged crisis in the party in Benue.

?Again, the APC leadership in the State is in no crisis as claimed in the unfounded report (not Daily Trust). The party under the chairmanship of Hon. Benjamin Omale, has a super working relationship with the Governor, and has been performing its functions effectively, both at the State and national level, as was seen recently during the APC Summit in Abuja.

?The Governor has no plans to defect from the APC, especially as Benue State stands to benefit more under the party and the Tinubu led presidency. He will continue to deliver good governance to the people of the Benue State on the APC platform they elected him,? the statement posited.

Discontent as forces try to control Bauchi APC

In Bauchi, the main opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) is battling with efforts by critical stakeholders to takeover the control of the party.

Some of the major contenders warming up for the APC gubernatorial ticket include the Senator representing Bauchi South Shehu Umar Buba, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and the 2023 gubernatorial candidate Air Marshall Sadique Baba Abubakar among other aspirants.

The situation has already polarized members of the party with supporters and loyalists scheming to grab control of the soul of party while the struggle has continued to divide members sharply along candidate of their choice. Some of the supporters had since embarked on media antics calling on their candidate to declare interest to contest for the office of governor others have flooded the streets and strategic locations with posters and billboards of their candidate across the state.

Findings indicate that the APC is also facing lots of discontent among its members over lack of rewards system for party faithful in the state, others are murmuring over the silence of the leadership of the party on the political and other contemporary issues that affect the state as well as the recent leadership crisis in Bauchi LGA, the state capital.

A Chieftain of APC Bauchi Comrade Sabo Mohammed told Weekend Trust that the APC has one leadership but the party struggling with discontents saying, ?We have one leadership and one structure as there isn?t any faction at the moment but our major problem is that there are too much discontentment in the APC in Bauchi State.

Mohammed explained, ?The main cause of the problem is lack of free and fair congresses since 2015 and this is one of the major discontents among the vast majority of our members couple with some officials who have overstayed their tenure and refused to pave way for other credible people to lead the party.

Responding to the division among members of preferred candidates, Mohammed said that problems emanated from personal ambitions of the many governorship aspirants. ?We have too many candidates eyeing and being call upon to contest the office of governor of the state because the incumbent governor Bala Mohammed is in his second term and the PDP from the top, down to the ward is polarised and a lot of people are running away from the party?.

Findings also indicate that the leadership crisis in Bauchi town is also becoming a factor, as many members of the party are not comfortable with the recent removal of the APC chairman Bauchi LGA, Idris Isa Gubi, and his replacement with Alhaji Sunusi Biali.

The APC has a strong footing in Bauchi State, especially at the grassroots but lost power during the 2019 general election to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and if the current political crisis is not properly managed the chances of reclaiming power in 2027 might prove elusive.

Oyo internal battles over 2027

The battle of reclaiming the Pace-Setter State by the APC after being sent packing by the People?s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 is also tearing the party?s leaders apart in Oyo State.

Barely two years to the 2027 governorship election, the opposition APC is grappling with the same internal crises that cost it power in 2019 and 2023.

The major battle appears to be between the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin, Oyo North Senator, Fatai Buhari among others eyeing the governor?s seat.

Adelabu who just returned to APC following his ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu is believed to being position as the next candidate of APC, a decision which may make or mar the party?s return to power.

Having lost out in 2019, Adelabu re-contested for the governorship in 2023 on the platform of the Accord Party after defecting from the APC. Adelabu returned to the ruling APC and he has been putting in structures towards his ambition in 2027.

Adebayo Shittu, a former minister of communications, recently warned the APC against imposing candidates in the forthcoming elections in Oyo State.

Asked about his about on rumours that the APC national chairman, Abdullah Ganduje favours the minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, for the governorship ticket, Shittu said ?With due respect to Adelabu, is my junior brother and we have a very good relationship. But on two occasions in 2019, he was imposed after I was disqualified for him to get the ticket. He lost the election.

?In 2023, when he didn?t get the ticket of the party, he went to another party to contest election and again lost. I am not a soothsayer, but I know that with agitations for rotation in Oyo State by party elements and even people outside Ibadan, there will be a change. If, for instance, Adelabu is imposed again, because he is from Ibadan, and the PDP picks somebody from outside Ibadan, APC would be in big trouble.?

Bayelsa PDP factions

The emergence of factions in the Bayelsa State chapter of the People?s Democratic Party (PDP), has posed serious danger to the survival of the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

The PDP in the state has been in one united front right from the inception of this current dispensation, a situation that helped the party control power in the oil rich state from 1999 till date.

Though, a little disagreement within the ranks of PDP almost made the party lose the control of the state during 2019 off-cycle governorship election, when the APC candidate, Chief David Lyon defeated incumbent Governor Douye Diri in the election, the Supreme Court judgement which disqualified Lyon?s running mate, gave the PDP lifeline.

The recent division in the leadership of the party at state level where one faction is supporting Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and other supporting Governor Douye Diri is a major threat to the survival of the party.

Already two factions are laying claims to the leadership of the party, with one faction controlled by the caretaker committee led by George Turnah and other controlled by Chief Solomon Agwanana, whose tenure was said to have been dissolved by the South South zonal leadership of the party.

A chieftain of the party who spoke with Weekend Trust on condition of anonymity, said the situation in the party if not resolved urgently will affect its chances 2027 general election.

Just recently, the PDP faction loyal to Wike in Bayelsa State, in its efforts to strengthen its control of the state politics approved what it termed as ?improved harmonised salary structure? for all categories of its officials from the ward to the state level to an accumulated amount of N306 million monthly.

The party?s ad-hoc committee set up to review the salaries of party officials had submitted its report, prompting a consensus vote for an increment.

The PDP faction loyal to Governor Douye Diri, insists, however, that the state chapter of the party has no faction, as all the exco from the state, local government and wards are working as one.

The Publicity Secretary of PDP in Bayelsa State, Ebiye Ogoli, told Journalists that the party in the state takes instructions from Governor Diri who is the leader of the party in the state.

He said: ?In Bayelsa state, l want to put the records straight that PDP has only one state exco committee (SEC) and one single state working committee (SWC), which is the one led by Solomon Agwanana.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring Rivers State, the leadership crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted to Court to ensure legitimacy of any of the factions ahead of the 2027 general election.

The National leadership of the party had dissolved the State Working Committee of the party led by Emeka Beke and constituted a Caretaker Committee led by Chief Tony Okocha.

Lagos APC crisis

In Lagos APC, the internal wrangling stemmed from the crisis which rocked the State House Assembly over leadership as well as the recently conducted primaries over the forthcoming council polls.

In January 13, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa was impeached over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The lawmakers elected Mojisola Meranda, representing Apapa I, as a replacement. The crisis rocked the powerful decision ? making body, Governor?s Advisory Council (GAC).

For weeks, the Lagos Assembly crisis unsettled the home state of President Bola Tinubu as the floor of the house was turned into a battle field of sort. Tinubu had to draft some powerful APC leaders including Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba to wade into the matter after GAC failed to resolve it.

In resolving the matter, Obasa returned as speaker after 49 days. He also challenged his removal in court and won.

Insiders said although Obasa had returned as speaker, he is yet to regards the trust of his colleagues.

While the assembly crisis has created cracks in the APC with leaders pitching tents with different camps, the Council election further exposed the internal wrangling.

Controversies and protests have continued to trail the local government election primaries of the ruling APC two weeks after the shadow poll was conducted

From Ikeja to Alimosho, Shomolu; Agege, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos Island, Yaba, among others, aggrieved aspirants have continued to challenge the outcome of the primaries accusing the leadership of the party of imposition.

Niger APC rift lingers

In Niger State, the primary trigger of internal rifts within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was the adoption of consensus candidacy by the party ahead of the November 1, 2025 local government elections.

Some party members alleged that candidates selected by local government consensus committees were later substituted at the state level, prompting a series of legal battles.

The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission recently disclosed that three local governments are currently in court, challenging the consensus candidate selection process.

Chairman of the Commission, Engr. Mohammed Jibril Imam, revealed this while announcing the commencement of campaigns for the local council elections slated for November 1.

He noted that 10 political parties have fielded candidates for positions including Chairmanship, Vice-Chairmanship, and Councillorship.

However, Weekend Trust gathered from insiders within the APC that there is significant political realignment and cross-camp movement between the Bago and Malagi factions, as preparations for the 2027 elections begin to take shape.

Though the cracks between the two camps have not yet escalated into a full-blown crisis, observers believe the rivalry between these major factions is likely to become more pronounced in the lead-up to 2027.

A source revealed that while some loyalists of Governor Bago are dissatisfied with his leadership style and certain decisions, members of the Malagi camp are equally aggrieved over the alleged lack of political compensation. This has led to noticeable defections between the camps.

Prominent figures in the Malagi faction include former governor and current Senator Abubakar Sani Bello and his political associates. (Weekend Trust)

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