NDC eyes to gain from APC’s primaries fallouts

By Jude Opara

Growing discontent within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following its controversial primary elections is beginning to provide opposition parties with what analysts describe as an early strategic advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in particular, is believed to be positioning itself to benefit from the unrest, especially in Bayelsa State where tensions surrounding the APC primaries in Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency continue to generate political debate.
This position was made known by the National Coordinator of the Sagbama/Ekeremor Grassroots Agenda, Comrade Felix Osuobene, who alleged that the crisis rocking the APC has created cracks the opposition is prepared to exploit.
According to Osuobene, the emergence of Bernard Kenibai as the APC candidate has triggered dissatisfaction among some party stakeholders, especially supporters of Prof. Princewill Woyinbrakemi Igbagara, who was widely considered a leading aspirant before his exclusion from the race.
He claimed that opposition figures now believe the ruling party may have weakened its own political structure in a constituency considered critical ahead of the next election cycle.
Osuobene further alleged that the NDC’s national leader and former Bayelsa governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, views the APC’s internal disputes as politically beneficial to the opposition.
The APC primaries across several states have reportedly been overshadowed by complaints over disqualification of aspirants, disputes surrounding screening exercises and allegations of unfair treatment, developments that have continued to fuel tensions within the ruling party.
According to Osuobene, opposition strategists are banking on three possible outcomes from the crisis, reduced voter enthusiasm among aggrieved APC loyalists, quiet defections to rival parties and the use of the controversy as campaign material against the ruling party.
He argued that in politically sensitive regions such as the South-South, internal party disputes could significantly affect grassroots mobilisation and public perception.
“For opposition parties, especially the NDC, the image of a divided APC presents a political opportunity,” he said, noting that controversies surrounding candidate selection may reinforce existing criticisms about internal democracy within the ruling party.
Osuobene maintained that if unresolved, the lingering grievances from the APC primaries could have wider political consequences beyond Bayelsa State, particularly as parties begin early preparations for the 2027 elections.
He added that the opposition is determined to sustain public attention on every sign of division within the APC as part of broader efforts to challenge the party’s hold on power.