The political landscape of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gwagwalada is reportedly facing intense scrutiny from political observers and concerned citizens, as aspirants for the upcoming House of Representatives and Senate elections appear disconnected from local governance structures within the party.
In a recent Facebook post, political commentator and concerned citizen, Usman Abdullahi Babalado, accused local APC leaders of failing to strategically position or sponsor credible candidates for chairmanship in Gwagwalada Area Council. According to Babalado, this disconnect could weaken aspirants’ influence and undermine the party’s grassroots strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“None of the aspirants contesting for either House of Representatives or Senate seat has any Chairmanship candidate they positioned or sponsored… They only become miscreants and polluted APC, just to destroy their people,” Babalado wrote, highlighting a growing frustration among grassroots supporters.
The commentator drew comparisons with neighboring area councils, questioning the alignment of aspirants’ local support: “Go to Municipal, Kuje, Bwari… who’s their candidate? Go to Kwali or Abaji… who’s their candidate?” Babalado’s assessment paints a picture of a party leadership struggling to consolidate power at the local level, with a tendency to rely on external influence rather than cultivating homegrown support.
Babalado also referenced the political influence of Former Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, suggesting that the Gwagwalada APC is increasingly under external sway: “Gwagwalada APC is already out of their hands… courtesy Ganduje of Kano.”
In a historical reference, he recalled the 2015 APC primaries, where sitting chairman Abubakar Jubril Giri reportedly defeated aspirants despite limited resources, emphasizing the importance of having strong local alliances.
Interestingly, Babalado singled out Hon. Bayani, the potential APC House of Representatives candidate for Kwali Area Council, for praise, highlighting him as a rare example of aspirants with a clear and strategic grassroots support base. “I love this man… Bayani of all,” Babalado wrote, signaling admiration for his political foresight and alignment with the local electorate.
Political analysts suggest that the lack of cohesive local strategy could create vulnerabilities for APC aspirants in Gwagwalada, potentially opening the door for opposition parties to exploit grassroots dissatisfaction. Observers also note that the effectiveness of the party’s local governance strategy may be a decisive factor in determining electoral outcomes across the Federal Capital Territory.
Chronicles Reporters reached out to local APC officials for comments regarding these claims, but responses were not immediately available at the time of publication.
As the 2027 elections approach, the performance of APC aspirants in aligning with local governance structures could prove critical, with political commentators watching closely to see if the party can reconcile internal divisions and present a united front to voters.