Politics

We Have Conflict Resolution Mechanisms No Other Party Has – APC Chairman

Published

2 months ago

May 21, 2026

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe

We Have Conflict Resolution Mechanisms No Other Party Has – APC Chairman

LAGOS — The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, has said the party already has systems in place to settle disagreements that may come up after its primary elections, assuring that aggrieved members would be reconciled ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He spoke after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the President’s residence in Lagos on Wednesday, where he briefed the President on the ongoing nationwide primaries. Yilwatda said the APC has conflict resolution committees that will help reconcile unhappy members and prevent crises before the 2027 general elections. According to him, it is normal for some aspirants to feel disappointed after losing elections, but the party will begin an early reconciliation process to keep members united ahead of campaigns.

Yilwatda explained that the APC operates a structured conflict management framework designed to manage internal disagreements and sustain cohesion within the party. “Definitely we’re going to have some aggrieved party members after this primary election. We have an internal conflict resolution mechanism that has prevailed over a period,” Yilwatda told journalists after the meeting. He identified two key committees responsible for managing post-primary disputes: The Presidential Conflict Resolution Committee – a high-level intervention body, and The Party Conflict Resolution Committee – operating at the national level to handle grievances.

The chairman said the party has worked to reduce crises as much as possible across states. “Everywhere, if you lose an election, it is not a rare thing. We manage people as much as we can,” he said. “Emotions and sentiments exist when expectations are not met. We ensure an early healing process so we can emerge victorious across the country in 2027.”

READ ALSO:

Yilwatda described the ongoing APC primaries as the most competitive in Nigeria’s history, saying thousands of people are contesting for a limited number of positions because of the party’s growing popularity across the country. “The assessment is very simple. You can see how competitive our party has turned out to be. Just simple demand and supply. We have few positions and we have thousands of people who have come to vie for these positions across the country. The most competitive ever in the history of Nigeria,” he said.

The chairman framed the intensity of the contests as proof of the APC’s nationwide penetration and popularity. “It shows how APC has penetrated all communities in Nigeria and how it has been accepted by Nigerians and how every facet of Nigeria wants to be a member of APC,” he stated. He also said the primaries have been mostly peaceful and organised, despite a few complaints from some aspirants. “I also want to thank our supporters for the disciplined approach they’ve given these processes. It’s near rancour-free, very organised, with little complaints. It’s usual for people to complain in election processes, but it’s near perfect,” he said.

On concerns about consensus candidates, Yilwatda explained that the party followed its rules. He said where consensus fails, the party conducts direct primaries. “Our guidelines on consensus are clear. Our guidelines on direct primaries are also clear. Where consensus doesn’t work, you go for direct primaries. That’s what people are doing across the states,” he explained. He added that aspirants involved in consensus arrangements must sign forms agreeing to step down for chosen candidates. “You must sign off those consensus forms that you’ve stepped down. You agreed on a consensus candidate before the process takes place. That’s what we’re following in the guidelines,” Yilwatda said.

The Electoral Act 2026 makes provision for two methods of primaries — either through consensus or direct primary — ruling out the option of indirect primary. The APC leadership had initially preferred the consensus option as less cumbersome in terms of logistics, but where a chapter fails to reach an agreement, direct primaries are conducted.

Speaking about President Tinubu’s reaction, Yilwatda said the President was impressed with the conduct of the primaries, especially the logistics and the low number of incidents recorded nationwide. “The President was very impressed with the logistics we deployed across the country, the tactics we’ve used also. He has also been very impressed with the reduced number of incidents that we have across the country. He’s happy with what we’re doing,” Yilwatda said.

READ ALSO:

President Tinubu had earlier exhorted party members to ensure a transparent and peaceful primary process, emphasizing the importance of fairness across the 360 constituencies. He viewed the primaries as a crucial test of the party’s unity and democratic principles, urging members to uphold the party’s founding values of progressive politics, consensus, sacrifice, and selflessness. The President warned against divisive behaviour, stating: “We cannot afford rancorous conduct or the debasement of our democracy and party unity.” He advised winners to be magnanimous and losers to accept outcomes gracefully, emphasizing that political success is a collective achievement for the party.

Yilwatda noted that this is the first time the APC is organising direct primaries across the country on such a large scale, with result sheets and logistics similar to those used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “This is the first time that we’re deploying a nationwide direct primary process. We printed our result sheets and put in place logistics exactly like what INEC does,” he said. The nationwide deployment of direct primaries this cycle marked a significant step and indicated improvements in the party’s organisational capacity. Yilwatda credited members’ discipline for leading to “limited conflicts” during the process.

The direct primary system, mandated by the Electoral Act 2026, allows every registered party member to participate in candidate selection rather than relying solely on delegates. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) instructed its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to monitor these primaries, as 19 out of the 20 registered political parties submitted their election schedules. The APC’s primary election timeline included House of Representatives candidates elected across 8,809 electoral wards nationwide on May 16, senatorial candidates on May 18, House of Assembly primaries on May 20, governorship primaries on May 21, and the presidential primary scheduled to conclude the process on May 23.

Despite Yilwatda’s assurances, the APC primary elections in some states have been marred by controversy. No less than 10 aspirants across various states have rejected the outcome of the primaries, insisting that the processes were marred by irregularities. In Ekiti State, House of Representatives aspirant Teju Okuyiga officially rejected the outcome of the APC primary election held on May 16 for Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, describing the shadow election as a complete “sham” that entirely failed to meet the minimum benchmark required for a free, fair, and credible democratic exercise.

The lawmaker alleged that party officials manipulated the process and disregarded electoral guidelines during the primary. “The exercise was a sham and fell far short of the minimum standards for a free, fair, and credible party primary,” Okuyiga stated. She alleged that results were announced in several wards where no voting took place, and that no election occurred in most wards across the three local government areas in the constituency.

In Ekiti North Senatorial District, senatorial aspirant Otunba Oluwadare Owolabi called for the cancellation of the APC primary election, citing alleged irregularities and violence during the exercise. According to him, there was no proper accreditation and votes were not counted appropriately. He alleged that officials deployed to supervise the election were government employees, compromising the neutrality of the exercise, and accused organizers of deliberately disrupting the venue, creating panic among party members and supporters. “I consider what happened an act of terrorism against democracy,” Owolabi maintained.

A reliable source at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja confirmed that an appeal committee has been set up to receive complaints arising from all categories of the primaries. The source said aggrieved aspirants who called the national headquarters to complain were referred back to appeal committees in their respective states. The committees are expected to act on the complaints, adding that in a situation where they cannot resolve a case, such will then be referred to the party’s leadership. However, reports indicated that even as of Wednesday, issues remained unresolved in many states.

Yilwatda also thanked Tinubu for supporting the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and backing efforts to enforce party rules. The chairman expressed confidence that the party’s internal mechanisms would successfully resolve post-primary disputes, allowing the APC to focus on the 2027 general elections. He said the party has worked to reduce crises as much as possible across states, describing the primaries as a logistical success and crediting members’ discipline for the limited conflicts recorded during the process.

“The party has worked to reduce the crisis as much as possible. We ensure an early healing process so we can emerge victorious across the country in 2027,” Yilwatda said. He noted that major voting blocs, including Kano and Katsina, remain firmly aligned with the APC, which he described as key strongholds for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

We Have Conflict Resolution Mechanisms No Other Party Has – APC Chairman

Related Topics:APC Conflict Resolution Mechanisms

Up Next

BREAKING: Rivers Governorship Race Takes New Turn As Fubara Emerges Under NDC

Don't Miss

‘Bad Loser’: APC Chieftain Knocks Desmond Elliot Over Surulere Primary Withdrawal

Politics

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

Published

2 days ago

July 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi)

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

A political pressure group, Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders’ Conference, has rejected the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, arguing that only aspirants with verifiable local roots and a longstanding commitment to the region should represent Ogun West.

The group, however, threw its weight behind the governorship aspiration of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a true son of Ogun State whose ancestry and political journey are closely tied to the state.

Addressing journalists in Ilaro on Thursday, the group’s spokesperson, Hakeem Adetunji, said the organisation, which he claimed has about 5,000 members across Ogun West, was compelled to respond to what it described as attempts to portray opponents of Senator Adeola’s ambition as enemies of the district.

According to Adetunji, the group’s opposition to Adeola is rooted in his alleged lack of historical involvement in the political struggles of Ogun West and what it described as his failure to support previous governorship aspirations from the senatorial district.

Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders’ Conference

“We are here to rewrite our story because, over time, people have called us bastards simply because we do not support Senator Olamilekan Adeola’s governorship ambition,” he said.

He argued that during the 2011 governorship election involving the late General Adetunji Olurin and the 2015 election in which Gboyega Isiaka (GNI) contested, Senator Adeola was not part of the political movement for Ogun West.

Adetunji further alleged that in 2019, Adeola worked against the region’s governorship interest and repeated the same pattern in 2023 by opposing the candidacy of Biyi Otegbeye, who emerged as the sole governorship candidate from Ogun West.

READ ALSO:

According to him, the senator allegedly deployed his political influence, resources and network to frustrate Otegbeye’s ambition in pursuit of his own governorship aspiration.

He maintained that the issue extends beyond politics, insisting that Ogun West deserves a candidate who shares the history, identity and aspirations of its people.

“Today, some people expect us to forget where we are coming from and abandon our history. We cannot do that. Senator Adeola does not share our historical background or political journey. That is why some of us cannot align with his governorship ambition,” Adetunji stated.

The group consequently endorsed Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, saying his family roots and connection with Ogun State make him a more suitable choice to lead the state.

“Some of us have identified with the aspiration of Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu because we see him as one of us,” he added.

Another member of the conference, Adeshola Hakeem, also questioned Senator Adeola’s claim to Ogun West, alleging that the lawmaker only identified with the district after relocating his political interest from Lagos State.

He argued that governorship representation should not be determined solely by political popularity but also by genuine community identity, historical contribution and consistent grassroots engagement.

The group’s position comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with Ogun West intensifying its longstanding campaign to produce the state’s next governor.

However, Kayode Odunaro, media adviser to Senator Adeola, dismissed the allegations, describing the conference as a faceless group pursuing a political agenda.

Odunaro maintained that the senator’s indigeneship is well established and no longer a matter for public debate, insisting that Adeola remains qualified to contest the governorship election under Nigeria’s constitutional provisions.

The latest criticism follows Governor Dapo Abiodun’s endorsement of Senator Adeola as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus governorship candidate for Ogun West after consultations with party leaders across the senatorial district.

Governor Abiodun had said the decision was aimed at ensuring Ogun West, which has never produced a democratically elected governor since the state’s creation in 1976, finally gets the opportunity to occupy the state’s highest political office.

As political alignments continue ahead of the 2027 election, debates over indigeneship, zoning, political loyalty and regional equity are expected to remain central issues in Ogun State’s governorship race.

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

Politics

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

Published

3 days ago

July 2, 2026

Trends Admin

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Senate President, David Mark

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit that sought to nullify the appointments of Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman held that the suit filed by Leke Abejide, the lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, lacked merit and was not justiciable because it bordered on the internal affairs of a political party. The court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to interfere in such matters except where there is a clear breach of the law or violation of a member’s legal rights.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and Aregbesola, effectively dismissing Abejide’s claims.

The judge held that the plaintiff failed to establish that any of his legal rights had been infringed by the emergence of the current party leadership. He also ruled that Abejide did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before instituting the suit, a requirement under the ADC Constitution and established legal principles governing disputes within political parties.

On the substantive issues, the court ruled that the transition of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark did not violate either the ADC Constitution or the Electoral Act, 2026.

Justice Liman explained that the July 2, 2025, gathering at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja was merely a stakeholders’ meeting where Nwosu announced his intention to hand over the party’s leadership. According to the court, the formal emergence of David Mark and Aregbesola occurred during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court held that the process complied with the party’s constitution and all applicable electoral laws.

READ ALSO:

Justice Liman consequently declared that David Mark’s emergence as National Chairman and Aregbesola’s appointment as National Secretary were valid and lawful.

The court also imposed financial penalties on the plaintiff and his counsel. Abejide was ordered to pay ₦2 million in costs to each of the defendants, while his lawyer was directed to pay ₦10 million in costs pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Abejide had instituted the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, seeking to invalidate the leadership transition within the ADC. He argued that Nwosu’s handover of the party’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola was unlawful and asked the court to nullify the process.

He also sought perpetual injunctions restraining David Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary and asked the court to prevent INEC from recognising them, alleging that their emergence failed to comply with the Electoral Act.

However, Justice Liman rejected all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and affirmed the legality of the leadership change, leaving the David Mark-led National Working Committee firmly in charge of the party.

The judgment is regarded as a significant legal victory for the ADC leadership as the opposition party continues preparations for the 2027 general elections. It also comes weeks after INEC reinstated David Mark and other members of the party’s National Working Committee on its official portal following a Supreme Court decision that set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order affecting the party’s leadership recognition. Despite Thursday’s ruling, other suits challenging the ADC leadership remain pending before the courts.

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

Politics

2027: Atiku Names Kenneth Okonkwo New Spokesperson

Published

3 days ago

July 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Kenneth Okonkwo and Atiku Abubakar

2027: Atiku Names Kenneth Okonkwo New Spokesperson

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed actor-turned-politician and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo as his official spokesperson, in a move seen as strengthening the party’s communication strategy ahead of the next general election.

Okonkwo announced his appointment in a statement shared on his verified X account on Thursday, expressing gratitude to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him and pledging to discharge the responsibility with wisdom and dedication.

“I give God all the glory for being appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson. I thank His Excellency for the immense confidence reposed in me,” Okonkwo said.

The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson described the appointment as evidence of Atiku’s leadership style, saying the former vice president prefers dialogue, consultation and compromise whenever disagreements arise within the party.

“Rather than take offence at associates for expressing genuine reservations about any action taken, His Excellency always opts for dialogue and compromise that engender solutions to problems,” he stated.

According to Okonkwo, his concerns over the political interests of the South-East were addressed during discussions with Atiku and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He explained that the consultations provided assurances that the interests of the South-East would be protected within the framework of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the prevailing political realities.

READ ALSO:

“At a dialogue with His Excellency and other well-meaning members of the African Democratic Congress, the interests of the South-East were discussed and guaranteed within the existing challenges posed by the Electoral Act, 2026, and the realities on the ground,” he added.

Okonkwo also acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Kashim Imam, former ADC National Chairman Ralphs Nwosu, and Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr. Ekene Onwuka, for their roles in promoting reconciliation and strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

He further thanked his family, supporters and friends for their encouragement and prayers.

“I still covet your prayers for wisdom, courage, provision and protection needed to carry out this challenging responsibility, which will usher in a glorious and great Nigeria,” he said.

The appointment comes weeks after Okonkwo openly criticised the ADC’s vice-presidential selection process.

He had argued that choosing a running mate from the South-South would further deepen what he described as the political marginalisation of the South-East, the only geopolitical zone yet to produce either a President or Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

Despite his reservations, the ADC later announced former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate after the former vice president secured the party’s presidential ticket.

Okonkwo’s acceptance of the spokesperson role suggests that consultations within the party have helped bridge earlier differences over the composition of the presidential ticket.

A lawyer, actor and seasoned political communicator, Okonkwo previously served as a spokesperson for the Labour Party presidential campaign and has remained an influential voice in Nigeria’s opposition politics. His appointment is expected to bolster Atiku’s public engagement and media outreach as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.