Abuja — A fresh wave of political instability is reportedly brewing within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as the party prepares for the high-stakes 2026 general elections. Tension has reached a boiling point among several aspirants vying for elective positions in Anambra State and across various constituencies in the Federation following a stringent new directive issued by the party’s National Working Committee.
The controversy centers on the party’s revised screening requirements, which mandate that all individuals seeking State and National Assembly seats must present the original copies of their academic certificates and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). According to a directive emanating from the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, these documents must be physically produced for verification before any aspirant is allowed access to the screening venue.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the party’s rank and file, particularly among those who have already invested significant resources into their pre-campaign activities. Sources within the party indicate that a significant number of aspirants are currently in a state of panic, as they scramble to locate original documents that may have been lost, misplaced, or remain in the custody of academic institutions.
Confirming the party’s uncompromising stance on Monday, May 11, 2026, the APGA National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, made it clear that the leadership would not be intimidated or persuaded into reversing the decision. Opara emphasized that the move is a necessary step toward sanitizing the party’s internal democratic processes and ensuring that only the most qualified and legally eligible candidates represent the APGA banner at the polls.
According to Opara, strict compliance with these requirements is essential to maintain transparency and credibility in a political climate where certificate scandals and eligibility litigations have frequently embarrassed major political parties. The party leadership is determined to avoid the legal pitfalls that often arise after primary elections, where opposition parties challenge the authenticity of a candidate's credentials.
In a formal statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, the party explicitly directed all aspirants to present the original copies of their highest academic qualifications for physical verification. This requirement is to be coupled with the presentation of original PVCs to confirm the aspirant’s eligibility as a registered voter and their active membership status within their respective wards.
Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the directive is the total ban on substitutes. The statement explicitly warned that photocopies, scanned documents, and even legal affidavits—which are commonly used in Nigerian politics to explain the loss of original documents—will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Any aspirant who fails to present both documents will not be admitted into the screening hall, the statement noted. This "gate-closed" policy has created a sense of desperation among affected aspirants, some of whom have reportedly begun making frantic efforts to persuade the party leadership to reconsider or allow a grace period for the presentation of affidavits.
The anxiety is particularly palpable in Anambra State, the party's traditional stronghold, where the competition for legislative tickets is expected to be fiercest. Political analysts suggest that this new requirement may be a strategic "sifting" mechanism intended to trim the number of aspirants and ensure that those who emerge are beyond reproach in terms of their educational background and local standing.
In what appears to be an attempt to address concerns over potential corruption within the screening committee, the party also clarified that the screening exercise remains entirely free of charge. Opara cautioned aspirants against making any form of payment to individuals or intermediaries under the guise of "facilitation fees" or "screening administrative charges."
Please comply strictly to avoid disqualification at the gate, the statement added, reinforcing the message that the administrative staff at the national headquarters have been instructed to turn away anyone not in possession of the requisite original paperwork.
The development has polarized the party. Supporters of the move argue that APGA must differentiate itself from other political entities by insisting on the highest standards of integrity. They point to past instances where candidates were disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the courts due to discrepancies in their academic records, often leading to the party losing hard-won seats to rivals.
On the other hand, critics within the party view the move as overly draconian. Some disgruntled aspirants have characterized the directive as a "deliberate hurdle" designed to favor certain preferred candidates who may have easy access to their records while shutting out grassroots contenders who might face logistical challenges in retrieving decades-old certificates from distant universities.
There are also fears that the rigid insistence on original PVCs might disenfranchise members who have been caught in the middle of INEC’s recent voter card replacement cycles. Aspirants have argued that while they are registered voters, the physical possession of an original card should be secondary to their appearance on the digital voters' register.
As the 2026 election cycle draws closer, the internal friction within APGA serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of party administration in Nigeria. With the national leadership refusing to budge, the coming weeks will likely see a flurry of activity as aspirants either meet the requirements or find themselves excluded from the race before it has even officially begun.
For now, the Abuja headquarters remains the focal point of this brewing storm. Whether this policy leads to a more transparent and credible APGA or triggers a mass defection of aggrieved aspirants remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the era of "affidavits and photocopies" in APGA’s internal screening has come to a definitive and controversial end.
