Emerging political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections have exposed cracks within the APC in Ebonyi State, where a new directive tying aspirants’ ambitions to the governor’s approval is stirring debate, writes EDWARD NNACHI

As political permutations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify, developments within the All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State suggest growing disquiet among those seeking to contest for various elective positions. For both declared and potential aspirants, the political landscape remains uncertain.

The situation has been worsened by what appears to be a fait accompli directive from the state leadership of the ruling APC, requiring all aspirants to obtain clearance from Governor Francis Nwifuru before purchasing the Expression of Interest forms. The development has thrown many party members into confusion, with some now weighing whether to remain in the party or seek alternative platforms.

Political observers say the directive further entrenches a troubling trend in which leaders are effectively “selected” rather than democratically elected.

Investigations by this newspaper reveal that handlers of this “selection” process often rely on familiar justifications such as “the party is supreme” or “the party has decided” to legitimise their actions. In some cases, individuals with little understanding of the political environment, the demands of the office, or the mood of the electorate are drafted into contests. Such candidates are sometimes financially supported to purchase nomination forms and eventually emerge unopposed, sidelining more qualified and grassroots-connected aspirants.

What was once loosely framed as a zoning arrangement re-emerged prominently in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections and has since evolved into a more entrenched pattern. The system, critics say, has now snowballed into a culture where candidates are routinely “selected,” much to the chagrin of both party members and the wider electorate.

While some defend the approach as a way of rewarding loyal party faithful or appeasing influential stakeholders, others argue that it undermines democratic principles.

There is also a growing perception that the practice is designed to produce candidates who remain loyal to those who facilitated their emergence, thereby safeguarding entrenched political interests. Others believe it serves as a barrier to prevent competent and forward-looking politicians from advancing beyond certain levels.

But Governor Francis Nwifuru denied the allegations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, aside from President Bola Tinubu, he was yet to make up his mind to support anybody in the coming elections.

He said, “I have not made up my mind to support anybody except President Bola Tinubu who has demonstrated love and support to us as a state as well as Goodluck Obinna Mbam of the State House of Assembly, whom the constituents have equally endorsed.

“You can only be there, when God says so. Let us be calm, let us be humble.”

He added, “We will start zonal meetings on Wednesday, it will run Thursday and Friday when I might have finished meeting with the leaders of the state.

“We will discuss the Senate, House of Representative, State House of Assembly and governorship (positions).

“We will not discuss the President’s position, because that one is a no-go area. We have only one presidential candidate, who is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“He is the only President who has started a project here and finish it. We are giving him our votes a hundred per cent.”

However, an elder statesman in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, strongly criticised the trend.

“From Somalia, Uganda, Liberia, Zimbabwe and Congo to Nigeria, leaders produced through such methods do not represent democracy or its ideals,” he said. “Rather, they reflect a system of government in which the least qualified or most unfit individuals are in power.”

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Emegha, stirred controversy last week while addressing party members in Afikpo Local Government Area. He advised aspirants to seek the governor’s counsel before purchasing nomination forms.

“Let me use this opportunity to advise all of us, especially those seeking elective positions, to seek the governor’s counsel before going to purchase nomination forms because anything outside the governor’s directive is a waste of resources,” he said.

The statement has since drawn widespread reactions from various quarters, including opposition parties and political stakeholders.

Reacting, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 election in the state, Chief Splendour Oko Eze, described the directive as anti-democratic and aimed at denying citizens their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for.

He alleged that the move was designed to discourage credible aspirants from participating in the electoral process and pave the way for less qualified candidates.

“I completely disagree with the statement credited to the APC chairman in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Emegha, that nobody should purchase nomination forms without seeking clearance from Governor Nwifuru,” he said.

“We are in a democracy. People should be allowed to exercise their fundamental human rights—the right to vote and be voted for in every election. Anyone who attempts to disenfranchise the people of Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 elections is acting against the interest of the people.

“It also appears the statement is intended to scare credible individuals away and impose unqualified candidates on the people. This is not acceptable. Enough is enough.”

Similarly, a former Commissioner for Works in the state, Paul Okorie, described the directive as both undemocratic and anti-people.

“It is undemocratic,” he said. “Such an arrangement can only thrive in a distorted democratic system and this will set us back significantly.”

Also reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress in the state, Mr Anya Idika, described the directive as a “selective aberration” being presented as party discipline.

According to him, replacing competitive primaries with what he termed “permission-based participation” effectively abolishes the essence of democratic contests and undermines internal party democracy.

“The statement by the Ebonyi State APC chairman—that no one should purchase nomination forms without the governor’s directive—should alarm every democrat, not just Ebonyians,” he said.

“This is a selective anomaly masquerading as party discipline. Practices like this are meant to be hidden in shame, not celebrated on public platforms.

“Nomination forms exist to enable members to contest, while directives are meant to guide compliance. But when one individual’s directive determines who is even allowed to participate, the contest has effectively been abolished. Primaries are replaced with permissions. That is not internal democracy—it is a monarchy with party letterhead.

“The APC constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act clearly provide for congresses, primaries, and appeals. None of these stipulates that aspirants must ‘wait for the governor’s approval.’ To tell aspirants that their resources will be wasted unless they secure prior approval from a single officeholder is to admit that the process is compromised from the outset.

“When anti-democratic practices are announced as policy, they risk becoming entrenched as political culture. Telling adults they need the governor’s permission to run for office sends a troubling signal — that merit, popularity, and grassroots support are secondary to personal endorsement. Such pronouncements should be condemned, not applauded.

“The public must resist normalising statements that strip them of their power. Suggesting that future representatives, senators, and assembly members will emerge through ‘directives’ rather than open contest is not strategy—it is a surrender of both party integrity and democratic values.

“We should not celebrate this; we should be concerned that it was said so openly. When a party chairman can, in effect, override the Electoral Act with a public statement, it raises serious questions about our democratic practice. Nomination forms are meant to be accessible to all qualified party members. If that is no longer the case, then the relevant authorities should take notice.”

Also reacting, a member of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Moses Idika, described the development as a troubling sign of shrinking democratic space.

“I believe the statement reflects a deliberate attempt to stifle democracy,” he said. “There appears to be an effort to centralise power and limit the freedom of Nigerians to choose their leaders. However, such attempts will ultimately be resisted by the people through the ballot.”

He further criticised what he described as a pattern of political control in the state.

“There is a perception that individuals are being positioned in public office primarily for ease of control. This trend did not start today, but it is one that many believe should not continue. Ultimately, the people of Ebonyi State will decide the kind of leadership they want,” he added.

In the same vein, the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South in the 2023 elections, Hon. Linus Okorie, described the directive as a cover for arbitrariness and the suppression of genuine competition.

According to him, democracy is endangered when participation is subject to the approval of a single individual, regardless of their influence.

“When access to contest is filtered through one person, it undermines the very essence of democracy,” he said.

He said, “The reported directive by the APC in Ebonyi State that aspirants must first obtain clearance from the governor before purchasing expression of interest forms is, at best, a troubling signal for internal democracy.

“While the law—and even the Supreme Court—has consistently affirmed that political parties have autonomy over their internal affairs, such autonomy is not a licence for arbitrariness or the suppression of genuine competition.

“Let me be clear: the Electoral Act 2026 mandates that political parties conduct their primaries either through direct primaries or consensus. Both methods are rooted in the principle of free expression of democratic choice by aspirants and party members in the nomination process, not executive imposition.

“Democracy loses its meaning when participation is filtered through the approval of one individual, no matter how influential or strategically positioned.”

He added, “If that directive stands as stated, it raises a legitimate concern about whether the process is intended to produce elected leaders or merely selected loyalists.

“That said, my focus—and that of the opposition in Ebonyi State—is not to manage the APC. Our responsibility is to strengthen our own party processes. We remain committed to a transparent and democratic system where every interested member is free to aspire and test their popularity without intimidation or gatekeeping. That is the only pathway to credible leadership.

“I also urge the people of Ebonyi State to pay close attention. The manner in which parties select their candidates is often a preview of how they intend to govern. Where due process is absent, accountability is usually the first casualty.

“For us, it is about the people, the process, and the integrity of democracy—nothing less.” (PUNCH)