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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended its decision to substitute some National Assembly candidates after its primary elections, insisting that the changes were made through a legitimate internal review process and did not violate the Electoral Act. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the APC received more than 720 petitions from aggrieved aspirants, which were reviewed by appeal committees before the National Working Committee (NWC) made its final decisions.
Responding to allegations that the party arbitrarily replaced candidates or handed tickets to individuals who did not participate in the primaries, Morka dismissed the claims, stating that no aspirant who failed to contest the primaries was declared a winner. He argued that party primaries are a process rather than a one-day event, explaining that the appeal mechanism forms an integral part of the nomination process and allows the party to address complaints and correct irregularities where necessary.
Morka acknowledged that some aspirants remained dissatisfied but said the APC had thoroughly reviewed every petition before reaching its decisions. He added that the party had begun engaging affected members to reassure them that the substitutions were not arbitrary or driven by personal interests. The APC also maintained that it remains confident ahead of the 2027 general elections, rejecting suggestions that the controversies surrounding its primaries reflect internal weakness or anxiety.
