Primaries Countdown Sparks Tensions, Defections, and Internal Crises Across Parties

With just days to the commencement of party primaries, Nigeria’s political space is witnessing heightened tension, as fragile alliances collapse, defections loom, and internal disputes threaten party cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), primaries will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026. However, last-minute political maneuvering is already reshaping party structures nationwide.

In Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed is weighing a possible move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after negotiations with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) broke down. Talks reportedly collapsed over disagreements on a proposed power-sharing formula between existing members and incoming defectors.

Sources indicate that Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, is reconsidering his options, including reviving his base within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is also said to have opened discussions with former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, a key figure in the NDC, in search of a more accommodating political platform.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is grappling with deepening internal divisions. In Adamawa State, a faction led by Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) has threatened to exit the party, alleging exclusion from state congresses and a breach of prior agreements on leadership sharing.

Binani accused party figures of sidelining her camp and installing a different leadership structure without consensus. While awaiting a response from the national leadership, her faction has reportedly initiated talks with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), signaling a possible realignment.

Amid the uncertainty, the Labour Party has distanced itself from viral social media posts suggesting that its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Kwankwasiyya Movement leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were being invited back into the party. The party described the messages as unauthorised, clarifying that it currently has no active social media accounts and communicates only through official statements.

Elsewhere, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has announced a leadership change, naming Kaduna-based politician Bala Mohammed as its new national chairman following the resignation of Ajuji Ahmed, who recently defected to the ADC. The party also raised concerns over Nigeria’s political climate, citing economic hardship, insecurity, and internal party disputes as threats to democratic stability.

Adding to the discourse, a civil society group, the Alliance for Democratic Rights (ADR), has called on the Council of State to intervene in the unfolding political developments. The group urged President Bola Tinubu to uphold democratic principles and warned against alleged interference in opposition party affairs, cautioning that such actions could undermine Nigeria’s multiparty system.

In response, the APC has defended the Tinubu administration, dismissing criticisms from opposition groups as misleading. The party highlighted achievements in security, infrastructure, and economic reforms, urging Nigerians to disregard what it described as politically motivated misinformation.

On its part, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has released its timetable for the 2027 primaries, fixing May 23, 2026, for its elections. The party also outlined nomination fees and screening schedules for aspirants, in line with INEC guidelines.

As the primaries approach, the shifting alliances, leadership disputes, and rising political rhetoric underscore a volatile pre-election atmosphere that could significantly shape the 2027 electoral landscape.