The All Progressives conference (APC) delegates’ conference and the Abuja Metropolitan Area Council (AMAC) primaries have not yet been concluded, and party leaders are still accusing the event of irregularities.
During a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, a candidate for the chairmanship of the 2026 AMAC council, accused the recent primaries “held on June 25, 2025” of “gross injustice, deliberate exclusion, and abuse of internal democracy.”
Yamawo apologized for the exercise’s secrecy and informed media that the chairmanship primary victor was a pre-selected candidate.
Additionally, he denounced as a sham the behavior of the party’s delegates congress, which was held throughout AMAC’s twelve wards.
After completing all constitutional criteria to run for the chairperson, including acquiring the nomination forms and expression of interest for 20 million naira (N20 million), Hon. Yamawo, who was clearly concerned, stated that he had anticipated “transparency and fairness” in the process.
In order to guarantee that delegate candidates would be eligible to attend the delegates congress, I also paid for and filed delegate forms and paid the three-year dues.
Inconsistencies, a lack of openness, and outright manipulation plagued the process,” he bemoaned.
The chairmanship candidate gave an explanation of the actions taken to settle the disputes through internal party channels, saying, “In response to this, I formally submitted a petition to the Delegate Congress Appeal Committee, rejecting the process and demanding a rescheduled congress that would truly reflect the will of the people.”
“Neither the appeal committee nor the APC National Secretariat have acknowledged or responded to me as of yet.
The APC National Headquarters-sent committee arrived with a predetermined agenda that was obviously intended to give preference to one candidate over others.
He voiced worries, insisting that “this degree of exclusion and manipulation sets a dangerous precedent.” It tells the world that internal democracy and fairness are no longer important to the APC.
If these serious injustices continue, our party’s future is in jeopardy. In our ranks, it demoralizes devoted members and promotes impunity.
“I speak not just as an aspirant in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship primary election for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), but as a founding member of the APC in AMAC and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a devoted and active member who has paid his dues and served this party with unwavering commitment since its inception,” parts of a statement he signed said.
“I complied with all constitutional procedures to run for chairmanship as an APC financial member. The Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms were purchased by me for $20,000,000.00.
In order to guarantee that delegate candidates would be eligible to attend the delegates congress, I also paid for and filed delegate forms and paid the three-year dues.
In my opinion, this procedure would be open, trustworthy, and consistent with our party’s basic principles of justice, equity, inclusion, and internal democracy.
To our utter surprise, the delegates’ convention that took place on June 21, 2025, throughout AMAC’s twelve wards, was a total farce.
“The APC National Headquarters-sent committee arrived with a predetermined agenda that was obviously intended to give preference to one candidate over another.
There were anomalies, a lack of openness, and plain manipulation throughout the process.
I officially petitioned the Delegate Congress Appeal Committee in response, stating that I disapproved of the procedure and called for a new congress that would accurately represent the people’s will.
“Neither the appeal committee nor the APC National Secretariat have acknowledged or responded to me as of yet.
The party leadership at the national level remained utterly mute in spite of our repeated demands for justice, including a follow-up letter asking that the Chairmanship primary be rescheduled.
“Even worse, neither I nor any other candidate received any official notification that the primary election would begin on June 25, 2025.”
“There was a lot of secrecy around the process, and by the time the results were revealed, a pre-selected candidate had won an election that I and many others were purposefully left out of.
In addition to being unacceptable, this betrays every tenet upon which the APC was established.
In several wards, particularly Gwarimpa Ward, the councillorship primaries were equally rife with anomalies, as if that weren’t enough.
In one startling case, a candidate who lost the primary for councillorship was proclaimed elected and even given a certificate of return. We cannot tolerate this flagrant disrespect for due process.
A risky precedent is formed by this degree of exclusion and manipulation. It tells the world that internal democracy and fairness are no longer important to the APC.
If these serious injustices continue, our party’s future is in jeopardy. In our ranks, it demoralizes devoted members and promotes impunity.
The following demands are made by me as a devoted party member and stakeholder:
An independent investigative committee should be established by the party leadership and the newly appointed APC National Chairman, Professor Nantawe Goshwe Yilwatda, to examine:
The way the AMAC Delegates Congress behaved.
“The Primary for Chairmanship and Councillorship,
issuing unauthorized certificates of return.
“That the AMAC Chairmanship primary on June 25th be canceled and that a new, inclusive, and credible primary be held in compliance with the party’s constitution.”
“That the party publicly recognize and respond to petitions filed by candidates, including mine, and address all valid complaints.”
To be clear, I maintain my commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the principles of the All Progressives Congress, a man whose leadership continues to motivate many of us.
However, we run the risk of offending the same people who founded our party if we permit injustice, exclusion, and deception to continue.
“I implore all of our party’s members, leaders, and genuine progressives to stand up for the party’s core values.
“The selection of well-liked and competent candidates who can win the general elections is no longer reflected in the party ticket; instead, it now represents those who have the support of wealthy and influential sponsors. The future of our party is seriously threatened by this increasing tendency of imposition.
The party has seen a sharp drop in member loyalty, and many no longer believe the party can maintain justice and equity.
Therefore, it is imperative that we prevent the avaricious interests of a select few from destroying the foundation that millions of people have labored to establish over the years.
