By David Lawani, Abuja
The presentation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms to candidates who emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries may have officially concluded the party’s candidate selection process, but it has also opened another, perhaps more critical, political front.
While successful aspirants celebrate their victories and prepare for the 2027 general elections, the ruling party now faces the delicate task of managing disappointed contestants whose next political decisions could significantly influence its electoral fortunes.
Political analysts say Nigerian elections are often shaped as much by post-primary reconciliation as by the campaigns themselves.
“The real election for every political party begins after the primaries. This is when party leaders must prove they can unite competing interests behind a common goal,” a senior APC chieftain told ThisNigeria.
The APC’s challenge is not unique. Nigeria’s political history is littered with examples of dominant parties entering election seasons with overwhelming confidence, only to suffer avoidable setbacks because aggrieved aspirants refused to support party candidates.
Defections, court battles, parallel campaign structures, and anti-party activities have repeatedly weakened political parties more than opposition attacks have.
For the APC, therefore, the presentation of INEC nomination forms is not the end of the process. It is the beginning of another political battle, one that requires tact, diplomacy and genuine reconciliation.
The successful candidates have secured the party’s tickets, but many unsuccessful aspirants invested substantial financial resources, political capital and years of grassroots mobilisation in pursuit of the same goal.
While some have accepted defeat, others remain dissatisfied with the conduct and outcome of the primaries.
Their grievances, if ignored, could become fertile ground for political instability within the ruling party.
Speaking with ThisNigeria, the Edo State Secretary of the APC, Lawrence Okah, described the presentation of nomination forms as part of the normal electoral procedure.
“This is just a formality. Their names will still be forwarded to INEC. It is simply part of the process before the general election,” Okah said.
He urged disappointed aspirants to subordinate their personal ambitions to the party’s collective interest.
“Those who are aggrieved should work for the party and ensure the APC wins the general election. That is my message to them,” he said.
His remarks reflect the growing concern within the APC that unresolved disputes could become an opening for opposition parties eager to strengthen their ranks ahead of the elections.
Political observers note that rival parties are closely monitoring developments within the APC, hoping to attract influential politicians who command significant grassroots support in their constituencies.
A political analyst, Dr Tunde Adebayo, believes the ruling party cannot afford to underestimate the political value of reconciliation.
“Every unsuccessful aspirant has supporters, political structures and influence. Ignoring them simply because the primaries have ended could prove costly at the general election,” he said.
According to him, reconciliation should not be reduced to ceremonial meetings or photographs.
He argued that genuine engagement, honest dialogue and practical assurances are needed to convince disappointed aspirants that they remain valuable members of the party.
The responsibility now rests with the APC’s National Working Committee, governors, state executives, elders and other influential stakeholders.
Their ability to quickly intervene may determine whether today’s grievances evolve into tomorrow’s political crisis.
Time is not on the party’s side. The longer internal disputes remain unresolved, the greater the possibility that opposition parties will exploit the cracks.
Several politicians who lost tickets in previous election cycles eventually defected and became formidable opponents of their former parties.
Analysts warn that the APC must avoid repeating that history.
However, the responsibility for preserving party unity does not lie solely with the leadership.
Aggrieved aspirants also face difficult choices.
While anyone dissatisfied with the primaries has the constitutional right to seek redress through established party mechanisms or the courts, political experience has shown that patience often yields greater rewards than emotional defections.
“Political careers are built over time. One lost primary should not define anyone’s political future,” Dr Adebayo noted.
He added that many of Nigeria’s leading politicians experienced several electoral disappointments before eventually attaining higher office.
As campaigns gradually gather momentum, unity may become the APC’s greatest electoral asset.
Successful candidates cannot prosecute elections alone.
They depend on former rivals, ward executives, local party leaders, volunteers and grassroots supporters who previously worked for different aspirants during the primaries.
Without their cooperation, even the strongest candidates could struggle in highly competitive constituencies.
Political observers also argue that reconciliation must not be mistaken for rewarding indiscipline.
The party leadership must distinguish between genuine grievances deserving attention and actions that undermine party cohesion.
Justice, fairness and discipline, they say, must remain the guiding principles of the reconciliation process.
Ultimately, the presentation of INEC nomination forms marks the end of candidate selection but not the end of the APC’s internal political journey.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the ruling party can transform competition into cooperation and disappointment into renewed commitment.
For the APC, the challenge is unmistakable. Winning the primaries produced candidates.
Winning back the confidence of those who lost could ultimately determine whether the ruling party enters the 2027 general elections as a united political force or a divided house vulnerable to its opponents.
“Winning the ticket gives you a candidate. Winning the confidence of those who lost gives you victory,” a senior party official said.
