APC Stakeholders Pressure Aspirants to Step Down for Consensus Candidates in Kaduna, Benue

Strong indications have emerged that pressure is mounting on All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirants to step down for consensus or preferred candidates adopted by party stakeholders in Kaduna and Benue states as primaries hold today.

Our correspondent gathered that direct primaries may not be conducted in many federal constituencies across Kaduna and Benue states, as several candidates have been selected and endorsed by consensus.

One APC official in Kaduna and Benue states, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:

“The direct primaries may not hold in many federal constituencies because some aspirants were adopted as consensus candidates by APC stakeholders, while others were asked to step down. In cases where an aspirant refuses to step down, APC primary officials will conduct direct primaries in the constituencies for a winner to emerge. All the aspirants who stepped down for the consensus candidates voluntarily signed the forms.”

In Kaduna State, the current member representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sadiq Abdullahi Ango, has been adopted as the consensus candidate.

Also, the member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency, Daniel Amos, emerged as the APC consensus candidate for a second term.

In Kagarko Federal Constituency, Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zock has been endorsed by APC stakeholders in the area for a third term, but his opponents have insisted on direct primaries.

The APC stakeholders have also adopted the member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Fidelix Joseph Bagudu, as the party’s consensus candidate.

Governor Uba Sani, who is the leader of the APC in Kaduna State, alongside party stakeholders, adopted the consensus option, while stating that where consensus fails, aspirants would proceed to direct primaries for a winner to emerge.

To this end, Governor Sani on Wednesday approved the constitution of a high-level consensus committee on party harmonisation and aspirants’ engagement to strengthen internal democracy, promote cohesion among stakeholders, and sustain party unity ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, said the initiative was designed to deepen mediation and constructive engagement among aspirants across the state while fostering mutual understanding, political stability and consensus-building within the party.

In Benue State, the wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency, Regina Akume, was reportedly adopted as the APC consensus candidate for a second term.

In Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency, the incumbent member, Solomon Wombo, also emerged as the consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 polls.