APC House primaries postponed amid corruption allegations
The North-Central APC Forum has raised alarm that party officials have monetized the House of Representatives primaries, forcing a postponement from Friday, May 15 to Saturday, May 16, 2026. Forum Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga claims the delay is directly due to "monetization" of the process, with national officers allegedly collecting money from aspirants while promising them party tickets.
Despite President Bola Tinubu's call for free and fair primaries, the Forum alleges that officials are using delay tactics to favor those who pay for tickets. The list of cleared aspirants has not been released 24 hours before the new date. Similar compromised screening processes are reportedly occurring in Rivers State, where several aspirants linked to Governor Sim Fubara were disqualified.
The Forum warns that this commercialization could destabilize APC before the 2027 general elections. With the primaries now scheduled for Saturday morning, aspirants and party members face an uncertain process where financial considerations may determine electoral success rather than merit and popular support.