A fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following reports of an alleged plot to replace Hon. Joshua Ishaku as the party’s chairmanship candidate for the 2026 Area Council elections.
Hon. Ishaku emerged as the APC’s flag bearer in the primary election conducted in June, securing all 33 delegate votes. However, tensions have since mounted after the party’s Election Appeal Committee reportedly recommended his removal from the race.
In reaction, the APC Stakeholders’ Forum in Bwari Area Council has strongly opposed the recommendation, warning that such a move could trigger internal unrest and jeopardize the party’s prospects at the polls.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the forum’s chairman, Hon. Musa Dikko, a former Bwari Area Council Chairman, and its secretary, Hon. Shuaibu Musa, who also serves as the council’s APC secretary, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s national leadership to uphold justice by reaffirming Ishaku’s candidacy.
They argued that the removal of a candidate who won decisively in a transparent primary could undermine party unity and credibility. “This issue, if not handled properly, could cause serious divisions within the party and damage our chances in the coming election,” Dikko said.
The forum also emphasized the founding principles of the APC—accountability, transparency, and fairness—calling on party leaders to act in accordance with these values.
They recalled that following the primary, a defeated aspirant, Hon. Haruna Audi Shekwolo, who received zero votes, challenged the outcome in the Federal High Court, but his case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Undeterred, Shekwolo reportedly petitioned the party’s Appeal Committee, whose intervention has now sparked widespread discontent among party members.
Describing the committee’s actions as lacking transparency and fairness, the forum labeled the process a “kangaroo” approach that violated due process and could tarnish the party’s image both locally and nationally.
Quoting Article 20 of the APC constitution, the forum insisted that any appeal must guarantee fair hearing by involving all parties. They also argued that Ishaku remains the most viable candidate to deliver victory in 2026 and contribute meaningfully to President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
They urged the APC leadership to set aside the Appeal Committee’s controversial recommendation and reaffirm the candidacy of Hon. Joshua Ishaku to maintain peace, unity, and electoral success.
