The APC's House of Representatives primary elections face fresh controversy before they even begin. North-Central party officials are now accusing national leadership of turning the exercise into a money-making scheme.
Originally scheduled for Friday, May 15, the primaries got pushed to Saturday, May 16. Party National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka announced the shift late Thursday without explanation.
Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga chairs the North-Central APC Forum. He wasted no time condemning what he called the "monetization" of the process.
Zazzaga noted that President Bola Tinubu had just called for unity and fair play. Yet party machinery appears to be working against that vision, he argued.
The Forum raised a specific red flag about timing. Less than 24 hours before the new date, officials still haven't released the screened aspirants list.
Zazzaga alleged something far more damaging in his statement on Friday. According to him, national officers are visiting states and collecting cash from hopeful candidates.
What are these officials promising in exchange? Party tickets for the 2026 general elections, the Forum claims.
President Tinubu had urged APC members the same day to embrace sportsmanship. He warned that rancorous behavior could weaken the party ahead of next year's polls.
Zazzaga's statement backed the president's message. But it also demanded that national officials be held accountable immediately.
Feedback from across North-Central states paints a troubling picture. Many influential party members feel excluded by what they view as corrupt dealings.
In his words, the Forum observed this directly: "The forthcoming primary elections have already been monetized by party officials." He suggested the date shift proves this reality.
Why postpone by just one day, Zazzaga asked? Only to allow time for finalizing corrupt arrangements, he implied.
Free and fair elections require planning and transparency. Neither appears present in the current arrangement, according to the Forum.
The delay in releasing the aspirants list isn't accidental, Zazzaga contended. It's deliberate tactics to benefit those who paid party officials.
Zazzaga sent a stark warning to national officers. Pursuing selfish agendas could destroy the APC from within, he cautioned.
He called on all relevant authorities to stay alert throughout the process. Vigilance is critical given what he describes as already-compromised proceedings.
Party authorities haven't responded to these allegations yet. The controversy threatens to overshadow what should be a routine primary exercise.
Saturday's elections will test whether these claims hold any truth. All eyes remain on how fairly the process unfolds.
