Four All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants in Ogun Central have rejected the endorsement of Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu as the party's consensus candidate [1].
The dispute highlights internal friction within the party as it prepares for the 2027 election cycle. The refusal of these aspirants to accept a designated candidate suggests a potential legal or political battle over the democratic process of candidate selection in Ogun State.
The aspirants are demanding a formal primary election to determine who will hold the ticket for the Ogun Central senatorial district [1], [3]. They argue that the current endorsement of Salisu constitutes an imposition rather than a democratic agreement [1], [2].
According to the aspirants, a primary election is the only legitimate way to select a candidate who carries the full support of the party membership [1]. The group said the party leadership should pivot away from the consensus model to ensure transparency in the nomination process [2].
The conflict centers on the 2027 senatorial race [1]. While the party may have sought a consensus to avoid a divisive primary, the four challengers maintain that such a move bypasses the will of the party's grassroots supporters [1], [3].
Senator Salisu remains the endorsed figure, but the opposition from these four candidates creates a rift in the Ogun Central APC chapter [1]. The aspirants said the endorsement must be overturned to allow for a fair and open competition [2].
“Four APC aspirants in Ogun Central have rejected the endorsement of Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu.”
This friction indicates a struggle between the APC's top-down leadership approach and the demands for internal democracy from regional aspirants. If the party refuses to hold a primary, it may face legal challenges or fragmented support in the 2027 election, potentially weakening its hold on the Ogun Central senatorial district.
