The political landscape witnessed dramatic shifts yesterday as the highly anticipated APC Senate primaries commenced across the country, serving as an intriguing battleground for political heavyweights contesting for an All Progressives Congress ticket.
The results shocked many while it left others rejoicing, as there was jubilation in the camp of those who won while there were lamentations in that of those who lost. Key party leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, secured major victories, while several prominent figures suffered unexpected defeats during the intense APC senatorial primary election voting process.
Our correspondents report that elections in many centers were not concluded at the time of filing this report due to disagreements over the method to use and late arrival of materials for the polls. Those who were successful include those whose fate were decided through consensus arrangements and those who submitted to the contests through direct primaries, polling the highest figures.
Our correspondents report that many aspirants withdrew from the race. There were others who were not cleared by the screening committee of the party while there were those who lost out in the selection of consensus candidates and those who submitted to voting but still lost after the exercise.
Akpabio, Barau, Inuwa Yahaya Secure Victoria in APC Senate Primaries
Akpabio won the ticket for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District with 121,425 votes. Similarly, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Kano North Senatorial District. The affirmation exercise took place at the APC headquarters in Bichi Local Government Area, amid thousands of party members drawn from the 13 local government areas that make up the Kano North Senatorial District. Also present were officials from the national headquarters of the APC and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At exactly 2:20 p.m., the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee for the Kano North Senatorial Primary Election, Shehu Isa Direba, asked party members to affirm Senator Barau as the APC candidate for the district. A chorus of “Yes” from the crowd followed it. Similarly, the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Elections Committee for Kano State, Musa Yahaya, also sought the endorsement of party members, who unanimously affirmed Senator Barau as the party’s candidate for the January 16 National Assembly election.
Speaking after the exercise, the leader of the INEC monitoring team, Mr Abdulrahman Haruna, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the process. Responding, Senator Barau thanked party members for their confidence in him.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, also secured the ticket for the Gombe North Senatorial District. The seat is currently occupied by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who also secured the ticket under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to re-contest for the seat. Governor Yahaya, who participated in the exercise at his Jekadafari Ward in Gombe Local Government Area, was the sole aspirant and consensus candidate for the APC. He described the conduct of party members as exemplary, peaceful and reflective of the maturity and strong internal cohesion of the party, adding that reports received from various LGAs confirmed that the primaries were conducted peacefully and smoothly without any disruptions.
High Stakes in Kaduna and the Battle of Consensus Candidates
The former governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, also won the APC Senatorial primaries with a wide margin to represent Kaduna-north district of the state. Yero, who contested the APC primaries alongside two others was declared winner of the election in Zaria. Announcing the results, Hassan Saleh, the Returning officer of the election, said Ramalan Yero polled 6,060 votes to defeat his opponents; Muhammad Mu’azu Mukaddas, who scored 1,044 and Yusuf Bala Ikara, who came third with 372 votes.
In Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani also recorded victory, polling 9,105 votes to emerge winner of the APC senatorial primary election. The Returning Officer, Samira Jibrin, announced that Yusuf Zailani scored 1,021 votes, while Shettima Yerima, who withdrew from the race, garnered 1,253 votes. Addressing journalists after the exercise, Shehu Sani thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for their support.
Meanwhile, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung won the APC Kaduna South Senatorial District primary election after defeating former Senator Danjuma Tella Laah and Michael Ayuba Auta in the exercise conducted across the eight local government areas of the district. Reacting to the outcome, Chairman of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Joseph Bege Gaiya, described the result as a reflection of the wishes of the grassroots and a demonstration of the party’s internal democracy.
Uzodimma Defeats Okorocha as Okowa Outpaces Ned Nwoko
Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, emerged the candidate of APC Imo West Senatorial District after polling 230,464 votes. Retired Rear Adm. Williams Kayode, the Chairman and Returning Officer of the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, declared the result at Orlu Local Government Area headquarters. Kayode said Uzodimma defeated former governor of the state, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, who garnered 1,098 votes at the party primary election held across 12 local government areas of the senatorial zone.
In Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole was unopposed for Edo-North Senatorial District. The party’s Returning Officer for the senatorial primary election, Mr Kassim Otono, said Oshiomhole was returned unopposed as the APC candidate to contest for Edo North Senatorial ticket after polling 24,284 votes.
In Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate past governor of Delta State, scored 4,462 votes to defeat serving Senator Ned Nwoko, who got only three votes in the senatorial primary in Ward 9, Okpanam, Delta North. Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie Success, who posted the result on his Facebook page, said the exercise was successful. According to him, the Ward result indicates a clear victory for Okowa and a “strong statement from the party faithful.”
Meanwhile, the incumbent Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, defeated former deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to clinch the All Progressives Congress ticket for the district. Dafinone polled 116,252 votes to defeat Omo-Agege who scored 3,643 votes across the eight local government areas that make up the district.
Consensus Candidates Sweep Kebbi and Borno States
Senators Muhammad Adamu Aliero, Abdullahi Yahaya and Jafar Muhammad Gajere emerged the consensus candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kebbi Central, Kebbi North and Kebbi South senatorial elections. Their emergence came amid Governor Nasir Idris’ plea with other aspirants to withdraw from the race. The Special Adviser to Governor Idris, Kabiru Giant, withdrew from the Kebbi Central primaries for Senator Aliero. A former House of Representatives member, Hussein Kangiwa, stepped down for Senator Yahaya Abdullahi from Kebbi North while Senator Musa Maidoki and Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah earlier withdrew from the APC primaries over what they described as irregularities and interference from government.
In Borno State, the three incumbent senators – Ali Ndume (Borno South), Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and Kaka Shehu Lawan, SAN, (Borno Central) – ran unopposed in the APC Senate primaries in Maiduguri. Ndume stood as the party’s choice following the withdrawal of his main challenger, Abdullahi Askira, while Monguno and Lawan were affirmed as sole candidates. Prophet Jones Ode Erue conducted the affirmation exercises before a large crowd of party leaders and stakeholders.
Strategic Wins for Abiodun, Kalu, and Bamidele
Two former members of the House of Representatives representing Katagum federal constituency and Bauchi federal constituency, Ibrahim Muhammad Baba and Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, emerged winners of the primary elections for Bauchi North and South. Brigadier General Saidu Abdulhamid (Rtd) announced that Baba scored 22,744 votes to defeat the incumbent Senator, Samaila Kaila Dahuwam, who scored 12,912 votes, while Sirajo Ibrahim Tanko scored 5,210 votes.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has emerged winner of the primary held for the Ogun East Senatorial District on Monday. His main challenger and senator representing the district, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had pulled out of the race on Sunday night, alleging plans to unleash attacks on his supporters. Speaking after voting at Ward 3 in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, where he secured 810 votes out of 812 accredited party members, Abiodun said allegations of violence were unfounded:
“I want to debunk the perception some people are trying to create. Someone claimed that he withdrew from the race because of perceived or planned violence. We had an election here on Saturday. I monitored the exercise across the 236 wards in the state and the 103 wards in Ogun East. I did not hear that anybody stepped on anyone’s toes. The process was free, fair and transparent.”
In Ogun West, a former member of the House of Representatives for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Jimoh Ojugbele, emerged as the APC senatorial candidate. Daily Trust gathered that his opponents, including the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, had stepped down from the race to allow Ojugbele emerge as the candidate. However, a list of APC aspirants cleared for the Ogun West primary showed the deputy governor’s name was missing. When our correspondent visited Ilaro Wards 1 and 2 in Yewa South LGA, the APC primary was conducted by affirmation in favour of the former federal lawmaker. The result of the primary held across the five local government areas of Ogun West showed Ojugbele polled 85,552 votes to emerge as the candidate. The result was announced by the Returning Officer for Ogun West, Dr. Dapo Odukoya. Speaking with newsmen, Jimoh Ojugbele described the primary as free and fair. In Ogun Central, the current senator, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, emerged as the APC candidate, defeating other contestants.
Incumbent Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, emerged victorious in the APC senatorial primary election, clinching the party’s ticket for the 2027 general elections with a wide margin over his lone challenger, Philip Nto. The direct primary election recorded massive participation by party members and ended in a sweeping victory for the former Senate Chief Whip, who polled 65,651 votes to defeat Philip Nto, who secured 2,103 votes.
In Ekiti State, Senate Leader Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele was affirmed by his party for another term at the Senate to represent Ekiti Central Senatorial District. Also, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, who is also seeking re-election, expressed optimism that his people will support him to victory. He maintained that his representation had made significant impact and added values to the wellbeing of the people.
Jack-Rich and 42 Aspirants Disqualified as Kwara Internal Rift Deepens
No fewer than 43 aspirants were disqualified ahead of yesterday’s senatorial primary election. APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, released the names of the aspirants who failed to scale the screening exercise. Top on the list is former lawmaker and media mogul, former APC presidential aspirant, Jack-Rich Tein T.S. (Rivers West Senatorial District); and an ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Ipalibo Banigo (also from Rivers West Senatorial District).
A breakdown of the list shows that Zamfara State recorded the highest number of disqualified aspirants with seven, followed by Oyo with six, Rivers with five, and Kwara with four. Adamawa, Bayelsa, Plateau, and Niger states each had three aspirants disqualified. A source within the party revealed that several aspirants were disqualified due to inconsistencies in the documents they submitted. Another source noted that others were disqualified for violating local zoning arrangements established by stakeholders in their respective senatorial districts. He said those affected had since been contacted directly by the party.
Barrister Gyang Zi, a Senate aspirant for Plateau North Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he is qualified to contest the senatorial seat for the zone. The aspirant, who was among those disqualified by the APC, said the party did not inform him of his disqualification before the primaries, insisting that there is no reason to disqualify him. The aspirant called on his supporters to remain calm and vote for him.
Also, the Senator representing Rivers West senatorial district and immediate past deputy governor of the state, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, expressed hope that the national leadership of the APC will look into the issue of her disqualification and “do the right thing.” Senator Banigo, who was among the four senatorial aspirants of the party in the state said to be loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who were disqualified from the primaries that held on Monday, urged the party’s leadership to look into the matter in terms of gender, equity, justice and fairness.
Meanwhile, the widening rift between Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha came into focus on Monday as confusion and conflicting claims trailed the **APC Senate primaries** in Kwara State. The problem started after Mustapha’s name purportedly surfaced on a list of aspirants cleared for the Kwara Central Senatorial District primary. This is despite his earlier declaration for the 2027 governorship race.
The development immediately unsettled party members and supporters, especially against the backdrop of growing political tension between both APC leaders ahead of the 2027 succession battle in the state. Reports indicate that Governor Abdulrazaq and Senator Mustapha have been involved in a cold war over political ambition. While Mustapha is openly pursuing the governorship seat, Abdulrazaq is believed to favour a different succession arrangement, with reports of competing interests and alignments already dividing the ruling party.
The rivalry has, in recent months, fuelled speculations of an internal power struggle within the Kwara APC, with both camps quietly mobilising supporters across the state. On Monday, the simmering tensions appeared to spill into the open after a “list” of cleared senatorial aspirants emerged online bearing the names of both Abdulrazaq and Mustapha. The development contradicted earlier claims that Abdulrazaq was the sole aspirant for the Kwara Central Senate ticket. The report went viral on several social media platforms in the state. Hours later, reports from several wards across the district claimed that party members were participating in a direct contest between Abdulrazaq and Mustapha.
