Tension and violence disrupted separate All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries in Lagos and Kaduna states on Saturday, raising concerns over the conduct of the party’s internal electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In Lagos State, chaos erupted during the APC primary election in Mushin Local Government Area, forcing delegates, party members, and supporters to flee the venue before voting could begin.

The exercise, which was meant to determine the party’s candidate for Mushin Constituency II, was thrown into confusion following disagreements among supporters of various aspirants contesting for the ticket.

Eyewitnesses said the unrest created panic at the venue, leading to a stampede as party faithful hurried out of the area for safety.

Among the prominent aspirants in the race were the incumbent lawmaker, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, who is seeking re-election, and Seye Oladejo. Other contenders were also present for the primary before the violence broke out.

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As of the time the incident was reported, voting had not commenced and tension remained high around the venue.

Several APC members expressed disappointment over the disruption and called on party leaders and security agencies to restore order and ensure transparency in the process.

Party officials had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, a similar controversy unfolded in Kaduna State where angry youths allegedly took away the APC chairman of Igabi Local Government Area, Bashir Jibrin Jaji, following a disputed House of Representatives primary in Igabi Federal Constituency.

The disputed contest involved aspirants Sani Abdulkadir Dakaci and Hussaini Jalo.

Supporters accused party officials of manipulating the exercise after Jalo was declared winner despite allegations that no proper accreditation or counting process took place.

A viral video circulating on social media reportedly showed the APC chairman being forced into a waiting vehicle after tensions escalated at the venue.

One aggrieved supporter, Musa Salihu, claimed party members had lined up for the exercise but were ignored during the counting process.

According to him, delegates were shocked when officials suddenly announced Jalo as the winner without conducting what he described as a credible election.

Another supporter, Musbahu Idris, alleged that members had gathered at the designated centre since early morning only to discover later that the winner had already been declared.

However, a supporter of the APC chairman, Haruna Sani, defended the process, insisting that a valid primary election took place and that Jalo legitimately emerged victorious.

He stated that angry youths attacked the party chairman over allegations of injustice despite attempts by some members to protect him from the mob.

The twin incidents in Lagos and Kaduna have intensified concerns about internal party disputes as the APC continues its nationwide primaries in preparation for the 2027 elections.

Observers say the developments underscore the challenges political parties may face in maintaining peaceful and transparent nomination processes across the country.