APC Will Address Internal Grievances Before 2027 Elections, Aliyu Says

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouk Aliyu, has said the party is prepared to manage grievances arising from its candidate selection process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Aliyu stated this on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he acknowledged that some aspirants would be disappointed following the party’s primaries and consensus arrangements.

He, however, urged aggrieved party members to remain loyal to the APC, assuring that party leaders would continue to engage dissatisfied aspirants through dialogue, reconciliation efforts, and possible political appointments.

According to him, decisions on candidates within the APC are often influenced by wider consultations among party stakeholders, stressing that governors do not always have the final say in determining who emerges as candidates.

Aliyu explained that the party would adopt consensus arrangements where necessary, while direct primaries would be conducted in areas where consensus could not be reached.

“Of course, there will be broken hearts.Of course, you will have an ambition. If you don’t get it, you probably get heartbroken,” he said.

“But then, if you are a true party man, if the general opinion of the leaders of the party is candidate ‘A’, go for it. And if you don’t want to go for that, go for the election.”

Speaking further, Aliyu noted that political promises made during consultations may not always materialise due to changing political realities.

“Yes, there are some places where people were promised but then politics is dynamic. Today is one thing, and tomorrow another thing,” he said.

“So where somebody is promised a ticket, even the governor promised a ticket, at the end of the day, you will find out that even the governor, there are certain things he cannot do because there are other stakeholders that are more important than a governor in the state.”

The APC stalwart maintained that the party already has internal mechanisms for resolving disputes and appeasing aggrieved aspirants after the primaries.

“In our own party, when the leaders in their wisdom have decided let’s go through consensus. Where there are no consensus, we go for direct primaries.

“So I’m telling you we are prepared. We are ready. And of course, where the heart’s broken, we’ll try to mend them with good words, promises also of appointments and so on.

“Like in Adamawa State, we have a particular constituency where there are about 30 aspirants, and they know that only one person will get in. So if any one of them decided to come in just because you want to bring rancour or chaos, so be it. The party has mechanism in trying to appease those that their hearts are broken,” he said.

According to him, the zoning arrangement is intended to strengthen trust, mutual understanding, and inclusiveness across the country.

He stated that the NDC believes Nigerians must have confidence that political leaders and party stakeholders will always act in the interest of the nation.

Saleh added that the party considers the decision necessary to ensure stability and unity among Nigerians, stressing that all citizens should feel carried along regardless of region or background.