The APC in Ebonyi State is facing growing internal tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, as disagreements over the adoption of a consensus arrangement for candidate selection deepen divisions among key stakeholders. The dispute — pitting loyalists of Governor Francis Nwifuru against supporters of Works Minister David Umahi — has raised concerns about party cohesion, reports EDWARD NNACHI
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the fallout from the consensus arrangement adopted by the All Progressives Congress to select candidates in Ebonyi State is fueling a quiet but intensifying power struggle among key party figures.
At the centre of the dispute is the Electoral Act 2026, which provides two clear pathways for candidate nomination—direct primaries or consensus. While consensus is legally recognised, it is expected to emerge from voluntary agreement among aspirants, not imposition. Where such agreement fails, the law defaults to the more inclusive option of direct primaries.
In a bid to resolve the issue, party stakeholders—including serving and former lawmakers, commissioners, governors and ministers from the three senatorial districts—met last Tuesday under the leadership of Governor Francis Nwifuru. While some aspirants learned their fate at the meeting, others were asked to wait until Friday for a final decision on their political ambitions.
Prior to the meeting, speculation had been rife that several incumbents were marked for replacement across the state.
In Ebonyi North, lawmakers representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu and Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituencies, Eze Nwachukwu and Emmanuel Uguru, were reportedly targeted.
Similar claims trailed Senator Kenneth Eze in Ebonyi Central, as well as some House of Representatives members in both central and southern zones. In Ebonyi South, multiple lawmakers, including Prof. Anthony Ani — who succeeded former governor and current Minister of Works, David Umahi — were also said to be under threat.
However, the anticipated shake-up failed to materialise as Governor Nwifuru reportedly insisted that all incumbent lawmakers be returned. A senior party source suggested the decision may have been influenced by forces beyond the governor, noting that “his hands were tied.”
The situation took a dramatic turn less than 24 hours later when Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced that no aspirant had been excluded from the process. Citing consultations with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Nwifuru, Umahi stated that all interested aspirants were free to purchase nomination forms and participate in the primaries.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Francis Nwaze, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress should be allowed to exercise their democratic rights.
“I have consulted President Bola Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru, and there was no directive from either of them stopping any aspirant from purchasing nomination forms,” he said.
“I affirm the democratic right of aspirants. However, my support remains with the governor, whom we have all adopted as our sole gubernatorial candidate.”
Umahi’s position has unsettled party members and further altered the political dynamics within Ebonyi State.
In a swift reaction, the state leadership of the APC faulted the minister’s stance, describing it as inconsistent with the party’s earlier agreements and resolutions.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Publicity Secretary, Arum Kenechukwu, the party warned that Umahi’s comments could trigger tension and destabilise the chapter.
“The attention of the Ebonyi State chapter of the APC has been drawn to a publication credited to one of its highly respected stakeholders, the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi,” the statement read.
“While the party aligns with certain aspects of the statement, it considers other elements a calculated attempt capable of misleading party faithful, inciting tension, and precipitating avoidable political crisis within the state.”
The party reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Nwifuru, describing them as its undisputed standard bearers at the national and state levels ahead of the 2027 elections.
Shortly after, a pro-Umahi group, the Ebonyi Democratic Movement, fired back at the party leadership, accusing it of acting against the party’s broader interests.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Chief Igwe Emmanuel, the group criticised the APC’s response, describing it as misleading and counterproductive.
The group reiterated its support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Governor Nwifuru, while backing Umahi’s call for a more inclusive process.
It argued that the minister’s position — encouraging dialogue to achieve consensus and, where necessary, allowing direct primaries — represented sound democratic advice.
The group also cautioned the state APC leadership against actions or statements that could portray the party as intolerant or undemocratic, particularly on issues relating to nomination forms and primary elections.
A pro-government group, Ebonyi State Youths, has also rejected the position of Umahi, describing his stance on the party’s consensus arrangement as a recipe for anarchy.
In a statement signed by its leader and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Nwifuru on Youth Mobilisation and Development, Comrade Chinedu Emenike, the group defended the consensus process, insisting it was the outcome of broad-based stakeholder engagement across the state’s senatorial zones.
The group said Umahi’s call for aggrieved aspirants to purchase nomination forms was “misleading and provocative,” warning that it could incite tension and trigger internal crisis within the All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State.
Reaffirming its loyalty to the governor, the group warned that any party member acting contrary to his directives would face disciplinary consequences.
Political observers and party members have since expressed concern over the growing divisions, warning that the situation could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, it was gathered on Monday night that some aspirants aligned with Umahi had purchased nomination forms, in defiance of the consensus arrangement brokered by Nwifuru and other key stakeholders, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.
Barring any last-minute changes, the aspirants are expected to challenge several incumbents at the party’s primaries scheduled for May 15, 2026. Among those likely to face contests are Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central), Hon. Idu Igariwey (Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency), and Hon. Nkemkanma Kama (Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency), among others.
The development, seen as a direct challenge to the agreed consensus framework, has heightened tension and uncertainty within the party.
Although Governor Nwifuru has dismissed reports of a rift between him and his predecessor, political watchers remain sceptical.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor, the governor denied any disagreement, attributing the claims to mischief-makers.
“This speculation in some sections of the media is from those fanning the embers of discord. We are working together for the progress of the party,” the statement read.
He added that all aspirants would be treated fairly in line with stakeholders’ agreements and urged party members to prioritise unity and make necessary sacrifices in the party’s interest.
Reacting to the situation, a lawyer and senior member of the Ebonyi Prestigious Club, Sampson Ekigbo, said the consensus arrangement emerged from a well-attended stakeholders’ meeting and should be respected.
He warned against actions that could deepen divisions, stressing the need for unity and stability in the state.
Similarly, a senior party member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that while direct primaries remain a legitimate democratic option under the law, consensus is equally recognised and can help reduce internal conflict.
He argued that the consensus approach, if properly managed, would strengthen party cohesion and promote peaceful coexistence.
“Party structure is in the Governor’s domain. This is sacrosanct as the father of the party in the state. Umahi is not the party but a member of the party. His will cannot prevail on the party.
“My advice to Ebonyi electorate is to vote candidates based on the performance and not to driven by their sentiments and emotions.”
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Dr. Kingsley Agbor, criticised both camps, alleging that the dispute over consensus and direct primaries was driven more by personal interests than public good.
He argued that the positions of Governor Francis Nwifuru and Minister of Works David Umahi reflected elite power struggles rather than concern for the electorate.
“Nigerian politics is peculiar—rules are constantly shifting midstream,” he said. “Both leaders and their allies appear more focused on protecting personal interests than advancing the welfare of Ebonyi people.”
Agbor maintained that while both consensus and direct primaries are recognised under party rules, the process adopted should reflect the will of the majority. He added that open contests often produce candidates with broader appeal.
He further noted that although the governor remains the leader of the party in the state, political realities require power-sharing to maintain stability.
Agbor also urged voters to prioritise competence over patronage, lamenting what he described as underdevelopment in the state capital and calling for leadership capable of driving economic growth and job creation.
Similarly, a member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Comrade Moses Idika, described the public disagreement as unnecessary and avoidable.
He said both leaders should have resolved their differences privately to prevent escalating tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress.
While acknowledging that the demand for direct primaries is legitimate given the level of interest among aspirants, Idika suggested that consensus could still be applied in less contentious areas, with competitive zones left open for contest.
He also alluded to underlying power dynamics within the party, noting that formal leadership does not always reflect actual political influence.
A constitutional lawyer and APC member, Agbai Agwu, however, reaffirmed the governor’s authority, stating that by party convention, he remained the undisputed leader of the party in the state.
He urged party members to avoid actions that could deepen divisions, stressing that internal disagreements should strengthen — not weaken — the democratic process.
“The electorate should remain confident in the APC’s ability to deliver progress,” he said, adding that the party remains united ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also weighing in, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and former Labour Party senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Linus Okorie, provided a legal perspective on the matter.
According to him, the Electoral Act permits both consensus and direct primaries, but emphasises that consensus is only valid where all aspirants agree. Where objections arise, he said, direct primaries become the only legitimate option.
He added that while Umahi’s position may be legally defensible, his past dominance in similar party decisions raises questions about moral consistency in the current dispute.
“The Electoral Act 2026 allows political parties to choose their candidates through recognised democratic methods, either by direct primaries or consensus, provided that such processes are transparent, inclusive, and voluntary. Consensus is only legitimate where aspirants agree. Where even a single aspirant objects, direct primaries becomes the only legitimate option. In that context, the call for direct primaries cannot be dismissed outright; it is a lawful option. What is important, however, is consistency and sincerity in the application of these principles,” Okorie stated.
“Political leadership within a party is ordinarily exercised by its recognized structures under the guidance of the sitting governor, who is the leader of the party in the state. At the same time, influential stakeholders, especially those who have previously led the state, retain moral and political influence. The situation in Ebonyi today reflects a tension between formal authority and political legacy.
“However, it is worth noting, without being personal, that in the recent past, particularly during the eight years of the immediate past administration, party decisions of this nature were consistently taken without open dissent or counter-position. That historical reality places a moral burden, particularly on Umahi, to approach the current disagreement with humility and a sense of history. What he planted years back as a convenient formula has now matured into justifiable precedence; unfortunately to his own discomfiture.
“Put succinctly, as legitimate as his push may be; Umahi, having exercised absolute control over similar political decisions during his eight-year rule, may lack the impeachable moral authority to mobilise against the incumbent governor for following the precedence.”
He added that the unfolding situation underscores the need for a more inclusive political culture in the state.
“As an opposition leader, this moment is a reminder that the people of Ebonyi State deserve a more open, inclusive and development-driven political system,” he said. “Our commitment is to offer a credible alternative—one that prioritises governance over control, performance over politics, and people over power, while creating opportunities for youths and women to participate without undue influence.”
Meanwhile, an APC chieftain and former Commissioner for Information in the state, Abia Onyike, called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, urging him to caution Umahi.
Onyike argued that Umahi lacked the moral and historical justification to push for direct primaries, given past precedents.
He said, “Whatever it is, I believe that Governor Nwifuru has the capacity and humane considerations to provide leadership and I stand by the decision of the party on the issue of primary elections for the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency for 2027 whereupon all the National Assembly members were returned to go back.
“Let Umahi respect the collective views of Ebonyi stakeholders and stop insisting on recolonising Afikpo and Edda even while out of elective office. Is he the first person to become a minister? I don’t accept the confusion by Umahi and his attempts to play holier than thou. When he was a sitting Governor, who did he share power with? Even Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, who made him governor, did he permit him to do anything in the state?”
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