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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, on Thursday moved to defuse growing tensions over the controversial Niger South Senatorial District primary election after receiving a delegation of protesters who demanded the cancellation of the exercise and the conduct of a fresh poll.

The protesters, comprising APC members, stakeholders and constituents from Niger South Senatorial District, popularly known as Zone A in Niger State, marched to the APC National Secretariat in Wuse II, Abuja, under the auspices of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs).

At the party headquarters, the delegation formally presented a petition alleging widespread irregularities in the conduct of the senatorial primary election and calling on the party leadership to intervene.

The petition, signed by the Deputy National Secretary of the CNCSOs, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, accused those behind the exercise of undermining internal democracy through alleged manipulation of the process, exclusion of legitimate delegates, lack of transparency, political interference and the imposition of a preferred candidate.

According to the coalition, the disputed primary has generated widespread anger and disappointment among party members and constituents who believe the outcome did not reflect the genuine wishes of delegates and stakeholders in the district.

The group said its protest was motivated by the need to defend democratic values, electoral justice and fairness within the ruling party.

“We are deeply disturbed by the widespread allegations surrounding the conduct of the purported primary election,” the petitioners stated.

The coalition demanded the immediate cancellation of the disputed primary and called for a fresh election to be conducted in line with the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution and the party’s guidelines governing primary elections.

The protesters also urged the APC leadership to halt what they described as candidate imposition and political interference in internal party affairs.

They argued that democracy could only flourish where party members and delegates are allowed to freely determine their representatives without external influence.

The petition further warned that failure to address the grievances raised could worsen divisions within the party and undermine confidence in its democratic processes.

“The people of Niger South Senatorial District deserve a candidate produced through a transparent and credible democratic process, not through alleged imposition or political engineering,” the coalition said.

Responding to the protesters, Prof. Yilwatda thanked them for conducting a peaceful demonstration and assured them that their petition would be transmitted to the party’s legal department for consideration.

While acknowledging their concerns, the APC chairman explained that the Electoral Act empowers aspirants who participated in the primary election to formally challenge the process through established legal and party mechanisms.

He noted that the APC had already constituted an appeal committee to receive complaints arising from the primaries and advised aggrieved aspirants to take advantage of the available channels for redress.

“All petitions have also been looked into. Nevertheless, I will table this also to the legal department,” Yilwatda told the delegation.

The APC chairman stressed that complaints submitted within the timelines prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the party would be reviewed in accordance with the law.

He emphasized that the APC remains committed to addressing legitimate grievances and strengthening internal democracy.

“We need the people. We need the votes. And we cannot discard any voice,” he said.

Yilwatda added that his decision to personally receive the protesters reflected the party leadership’s willingness to engage members and stakeholders on issues affecting the grassroots.

The protest marks the latest twist in the controversy surrounding the APC’s Niger South Senatorial primary election, which has continued to generate debate among party members and political stakeholders in Niger State.

Observers believe the outcome of the dispute and the party’s response to the concerns raised may play a crucial role in determining party cohesion and political stability in the district ahead of future electoral contests.