BREAKING: Yilwatda Reveals APC’s Next Step If Consensus Collapses

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According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress has dismissed allegations suggesting that candidates were imposed during its recent primary elections across different states.

The party stated that its internal selection process remains guided by established rules that allow aspirants to either agree on consensus arrangements or proceed to competitive primaries where consensus is not achieved.

The clarification came following ongoing discussions within political circles about how candidates emerge under the party’s structure and whether the method of consensus could undermine internal democracy.

The National Chairman of the party, Nentawe Yilwatda, made the clarification during a television interview with Arise News on Monday.

He addressed concerns that the party’s increasing use of consensus arrangements might lead to tension among members or weaken unity within the party.

He maintained that the APC operates a structured process that gives equal opportunity to all aspirants before any decision on consensus is reached, and that no candidate is forced into or excluded from participation.

According to the explanation provided, the party has developed a system where aspirants are required to indicate their willingness to participate in consensus arrangements through formal documentation before any agreement is concluded.

This process involves all individuals contesting for a particular position agreeing in writing before a consensus candidate is selected.

Where agreement is not reached among aspirants, the party allows for direct primaries, ensuring that members still have the opportunity to compete fairly for the party’s ticket without external interference or predetermined outcomes.

Further clarification from the party leadership highlighted that the existence of both consensus arrangements and direct primaries is designed to give flexibility in candidate selection depending on the political situation in each state or constituency.

The APC leadership explained that consensus is not imposed but rather achieved through mutual agreement among aspirants, while direct primaries serve as an alternative when consensus cannot be established.

This structure, according to the party, is intended to balance unity, internal competition, and organizational stability during the electoral process.

Concerns had been raised in some quarters that the use of consensus politics within the party could potentially create divisions or lead to dissatisfaction among members who feel sidelined during the selection process.

The APC national chairman, however, explained that such concerns are based on misunderstandings of how the system operates.

He emphasized that the framework is designed to prevent conflict by ensuring that all aspirants are involved in the decision-making stage before any final selection is made, thereby reducing the chances of disputes after primaries are concluded.

The party also noted that the combination of consensus and direct primaries is not unique to the APC but is part of broader democratic practices used by political parties to manage internal competition.

It explained that the method allows states and party structures at different levels to adopt the approach that best suits their local realities, depending on the level of agreement among aspirants.

Party officials maintained that the system is applied uniformly across its various organs to ensure that no individual or group is unfairly favoured during candidate selection.

Within the internal framework of the party, emphasis is placed on maintaining order during the nomination process while also encouraging participation from interested members.

The leadership explained that aspirants are given the opportunity to engage in discussions, negotiations, and agreements before any final decision is reached on whether a consensus candidate will emerge.

Where such agreements are not possible, the party’s constitution provides for a transparent voting process through direct primaries, which involves delegates or party members depending on the structure adopted in a particular election cycle.

He said, “Where consensus cannot come, you go for direct primaries. We created a consensus form. The consensus form allows all the aspirants to sign before consensus takes place. So, where there’s consensus, any state, all the aspirants must have signed. That’s number one.”