APC Stakeholders Petition Party Leadership Over Alleged Imposition Of Senatorial Aspirant’s Brother-In-Law As AMAC/Bwari Reps Candidate
In separate petitions dated June 1 and June 2, 2026, and addressed to the APC National Chairman, the National Primary Appeal Committee, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the petitioners demanded the nullification of Gabaya’s purported nomination and the conduct of what they described as a lawful and transparent primary election.
A group of aggrieved aspirants, stakeholders, delegates and party members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has petitioned the party’s national leadership, alleging the illegal imposition of Hon. John Gabaya as the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives seat.
In separate petitions dated June 1 and June 2, 2026, and addressed to the APC National Chairman, the National Primary Appeal Committee, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the petitioners demanded the nullification of Gabaya’s purported nomination and the conduct of what they described as a lawful and transparent primary election.
The June 2 petition, submitted through Freedom Chambers, a law firm based in Abuja, stated that it was filed on behalf of “concerned aspirants, stakeholders, party faithful, delegates, ward executives, and marginalized supporters” of the APC in the constituency.
According to the petitioners, Gabaya’s emergence violated the APC Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, APC nomination guidelines, and principles of internal party democracy.
“This petition arises from the purported emergence and announcement of one Hon. John Gabaya as the APC candidate for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in circumstances that fundamentally violate” party rules and electoral laws, the lawyers stated.
The petition further alleged that “no valid primary election was conducted in the constituency and that Hon. John Gabaya was unlawfully imposed through a process unknown to law, the APC Constitution, and the Electoral Act.”
In the second petition dated June 1, the group said it “absolutely rejected” the announcement of what it described as a consensus candidate.
“We, the aggrieved aspirants, critical stakeholders, and loyal party members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, write to formally register our absolute rejection of the purported announcement of a ‘consensus’ or single candidate for the Federal House of Representatives seat,” the petition stated.
The petitioners alleged that no primary election was conducted across any of the constituency’s 22 wards.
“We state categorically, emphatically, and with deep grievance that no primary election of any form held anywhere within the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency. Contrary to the guidelines of the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act, democratic voting did not take place,” they wrote.
They listed all 12 wards in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and 10 wards in Bwari Area Council, claiming that no democratic primary election was held in any of them.
The petitioners further alleged that no consultations were held with screened aspirants before the candidate was announced.
“At no point were the validly screened contestants or their representatives invited for a dialogue, consensus-building meeting, or briefing before the unilateral announcement of a candidate was made,” the petition said.
According to them, “announcing a candidate out of thin air entirely alienates the popular base of the party across all 22 component wards.”
Allegations Of Nepotism
The petitioners also accused an unnamed APC senatorial aspirant in the FCT of manipulating the process and imposing a relative as the constituency candidate.
“It has come to our collective knowledge, backed by indisputable facts on the ground, that the individual contesting for the FCT Senatorial seat under our party has single-handedly hijacked the party structure,” they alleged.
They further claimed that the senatorial aspirant had “bypassed the party’s democratic machinery to forcefully impose his biological brother-in-law as the candidate for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency.”
Describing the situation as unacceptable, the petition stated: “This level of nepotism and favoritism turns a progressive national party into a personalized family estate.”
Questions Over Membership Status
The petitioners also challenged Gabaya’s membership status within the APC.
They alleged that officials in Igu Ward, Bwari Area Council, had no record of his registration or transfer into the party.
According to the petition, the immediate past ward chairman and vice chairman allegedly confirmed they never received any resignation letter from Gabaya from a previous political party, while current ward officials reportedly said there was no documentation confirming his registration as an APC member.
The petitioners claimed that Gabaya’s name does not appear in the ward’s membership register and that he has no record on the APC’s electronic registration platform.
“Hon. John Gabaya’s name does not exist on the physical membership register of the APC in Igu Ward,” the petition stated.
It further alleged that “he has no record on the APC E-Registration platform, making his claim of membership completely fraudulent.”
Educational Qualification Allegation
Another issue raised by the petitioners concerns Gabaya’s educational qualifications.
The petition alleged that the purported candidate lacks a primary school leaving certificate.
“It is a matter of verifiable public record that Hon. John Gabaya does not possess a Primary School Leaving Certificate,” the petition claimed.
The petitioners argued that such an alleged deficiency could expose the party to post-election litigation.
“Flying an unqualified candidate is an open invitation for the opposition to skip the rigors of campaigning and simply sue the party post-election,” they stated.
Warning Of Electoral Consequences
The stakeholders warned that allowing the candidate to stand could create divisions within the party and jeopardise its electoral prospects in the constituency.
“The AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency holds the highest concentration of educated, politically conscious, and active voters in the entire FCT,” the petition said.
They added that party members across the constituency were already aggrieved and warned of possible anti-party activities, voter apathy and legal challenges if the matter is not addressed.
“If this blatant subversion of their mandate… is allowed to stand, it will inevitably lead to massive anti-party voting, lawsuits, and widespread apathy,” the petition stated.
The petitioners urged the APC leadership to immediately cancel Gabaya’s nomination, organise a fresh and transparent primary election, verify his membership and educational credentials, and prevent undue influence in the candidate selection process.
Among their demands is “an immediate nullification of the fraudulent candidate announcement of Hon. John Gabaya for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency.”
They also called for “the urgent scheduling and conduct of a transparent, democratic, and credible primary election or an open, inclusive consensus process involving all authentic, qualified contestants across the constituency.”
The group concluded by expressing confidence in the party’s national leadership.
“We retain ultimate faith in the leadership of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and the oversight of the Presidency to do what is right. We demand a level playing field,” the petitioners stated.
“Let the most popular, competent, and legitimate choice of the people emerge so we can march into the general elections as a unified and unbeatable force.”
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