The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially confirmed 18 governorship candidates following the party’s primary elections held across the federation yesterday, an exercise that has been greeted by mixed reactions, including protests, petitions, and a N10 billion defamation lawsuit.
Among those confirmed are Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos); Solomon Adeola (Ogun); Jamilu Gwamna (Gombe); Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo); Kingsley Chinda (Rivers); Mustapha Gubio (Borno); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Mohammed Bago (Niger); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Dikko Radda (Katsina); Abba Yusuf (Kano); and Peter Mbah (Enugu).
Governors Who Secured Second-Term Tickets
Incumbent governors who successfully secured their party’s tickets for re-election in 2027 include Uba Sani (Kaduna), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Dikko Radda (Katsina), and Abba Yusuf (Kano).
How They Won: Vote Tallies and Affirmations
While most consensus candidates were affirmed amid massive turnout, some states recorded competitive voting:
· Gombe State: Dr. Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna emerged victorious after polling 247,161 votes, defeating former Minister of Communications, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami (12,120 votes), and former Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali (11,612 votes).
· Kaduna State: Governor Uba Sani secured an overwhelming 459,393 affirmation votes as the sole candidate.
· Rivers State: Hon. Kingsley Chinda, a strong ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, won with 268,497 votes out of 297,068 total voters.
· Oyo State: Senator Sharafadeen Alli floored 10 other aspirants, winning in 350 out of 351 wards across the state, losing just one ward to a challenger.
· Lagos State: Deputy Governor Hamzat was affirmed as consensus candidate at Ward E3, Lagos Island, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu participating and commending the peaceful process.
Protests, Petitions, and a N10 Billion Lawsuit
Despite the affirmations, the exercise was not without controversy.
Plateau State Uproar: Aggrieved aspirants submitted nine petitions arising from Senate primaries and eight from House of Representatives contests. Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central) alleged that no valid senatorial primary was conducted, describing the process as “blackmail and unacceptable.”
He stated: “For someone to sit and allocate 1,423 votes to me as a sitting senator, when my ward alone has over 2,000 registered party members, is blackmail.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Gyang Zi, a former aspirant for the Plateau North Senatorial ticket, has withdrawn from the race and issued a N10 billion demand notice to the APC, demanding a refund of N20 million for nomination forms, N2 million state processing fee, N60 million campaign expenses, N10 billion damages for defamation, and a formal written apology.
Oyo State Protest: Former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, raised concerns over alleged irregularities, stating: “In some places, elections did not even take place, yet results were allegedly written and recorded. This is not good for our democracy.”
Delta North Dispute: Senator Ned Nwoko’s campaign organisation accused former Governor Dr. Okowa of “gross violation” of party directives and called for his immediate disqualification, insisting that authentic ward-by-ward results showed Nwoko as the rightful winner.
APC Reschedules Primaries in Bauchi, Kwara, Zamfara
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced the rescheduling of governorship primary elections in Bauchi and Kwara States to Friday, May 22, 2026, and State House of Assembly primaries for Maradun I and II constituencies in Zamfara to Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Meanwhile, in Kwara State, eight more aspirants stepped down from the race hours before the postponed primary, throwing their weight behind Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s anointed aspirant, Ambassador Yahaya Serieki. Those who withdrew included Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi.
Shettima Urges Unity, Assures Overall Victory
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who participated in the Borno State primary that produced Mustapha Gubio, urged stakeholders to ensure overall victory for the party in the 2027 polls.
Speaking through his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima called on party members to: “Bury hatchets, get united and commit to the success of the party, knowing full well that God gives power to whom He so wishes.”
He added: “Whatever we do here is part of the broader agenda of President Bola Tinubu to ensure a better future for Nigeria. The time has come to walk the talk, and only credible leaders can make this unfold into a pleasant reality for the citizens.”
Presidential Primary Set for May 23
The APC has released procedures for its presidential primaries scheduled for May 23, 2026. National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru revealed that the party would choose its candidate via direct primary across 8,809 wards nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking re-election, will be challenged by Stanley Osifo for the party’s ticket.
Former Senate President Ayim Pius Anyim has been appointed chairman of the presidential election committee, while Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Udo Udoma, and Jolly Nyame are members. Governors of the party were appointed coordinators in their respective states.
IGP Assures Peaceful Polls in Ekiti
Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured stakeholders of a peaceful, free, and credible governorship election in Ekiti State, with comprehensive deployment plans already concluded across the state’s 16 local government areas, 154 wards, and more than 2,400 polling units.
Disu, who attended the Election Stakeholders’ Meeting and signing of the Peace Accord in Ado-Ekiti alongside former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force would remain professional and impartial throughout the election period.
Additional reports from Our Correspondents
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