APC Primaries: TPA petitions Yilwatda, demands resolution of election disputes

A political advocacy group, Turning Point Agenda (TPA), has urged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to urgently address petitions arising from the recently concluded primary elections and officially declare the authentic results of the exercises conducted nationwide.

In a letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda and signed by the National Coordinator of TPA, Paul Oluwaseun Mashote, the group warned that the circulation of unofficial results in sections of the media could undermine the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process and trigger avoidable tension among party members.

The letter, titled “Urgent Need for Transparent, Lawful and Authoritative Resolution of Primary Election Petitions and Official Declaration of Results,” referenced assurances earlier given by the APC leadership that all grievances from aggrieved aspirants would receive prompt attention.

According to Mashote, the assurance became necessary following the chairman’s appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television on Sunday, May 24, 2026, where he reportedly stated that only the appropriate national directorate of the party possesses the authority to announce valid and binding results of the primaries.

TPA, however, expressed concern that despite the clarification, alleged “final results” of some primaries have continued to surface across various media platforms, particularly in publications linked to The Nation newspaper.

The group argued that the premature circulation of such reports was capable of misleading the public, heightening political tension, and eroding confidence in the APC’s internal processes.

“The premature dissemination of unofficial results, especially in a politically sensitive environment, creates confusion, breeds distrust, and heightens the risk of avoidable conflict among supporters of aspirants,” the letter stated.

The group cited the Lagos State House of Assembly primary for Ikorodu Constituency I as one of the cases where conflicting claims and speculative reports have already generated tension among party supporters.

TPA further noted that petitions and appeals arising from the primaries were yet to be fully determined by the NWC in accordance with the party’s guidelines, stressing that any attempt to treat unofficial publications as final outcomes before exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms would amount to a breach of due process.

The group subsequently called on the APC leadership to expedite the hearing and determination of all pending petitions and appeals submitted by aggrieved aspirants.

It also urged the party to publicly reaffirm that only the designated national organ of the APC has the authority to announce final and binding results of the primary elections.

According to the group, an official clarification from the party would help discourage reliance on speculative media reports and restore confidence among party stakeholders.

TPA further demanded that the eventual declaration of results must reflect transparency, due process, and verifiable outcomes capable of earning the acceptance of all aspirants and their supporters.

“The strength of our party lies not only in its electoral victories but in the credibility of its internal processes,” the group stated.

It added that the APC must seize the opportunity to reinforce public confidence in its democratic culture by handling the post-primary disputes transparently and in strict compliance with party rules.

The group also warned that failure to decisively resolve the disputes could threaten party unity and create avoidable unrest ahead of the forthcoming general elections.