The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries across several states yesterday produced a mix of consensus endorsements, withdrawals by aspirants, affirmation votes, and complaints over alleged irregularities, as party members prepared for the 2027 general elections.
This comes as the national leadership of the party rescheduled governorship primary elections in Bauchi and Kwara states to Friday, May 22, 2026.
In Kano State, Governor Abba Yusuf emerged as the APC’s sole governorship candidate following a consensus congress held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The motion for Yusuf’s adoption was moved by the Deputy President of the Senate and Senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin, and seconded by Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila.
Speaking at the event, the APC national representative for the primary election, Buhari Shagari, described the consensus arrangement as a reflection of unity within the party.
Governor Yusuf, in his acceptance speech, pledged to intensify the delivery of democratic dividends and also declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
In Zamfara State, members of the APC in Madawaki Ward, Gusau Local Government Area, affirmed Governor Dauda Lawal as the party’s sole governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The exercise, monitored by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC officials from the national headquarters, was described by observers as peaceful.
Governor Lawal thanked party members for their confidence in him and assured them of more dividends of democracy.
In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani secured the APC governorship ticket after polling 459,393 affirmation votes during the party’s primary election conducted across the state.
Chairman of the Kaduna APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primary Election Committee, Hafiz Ibrahim Kawu, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent.
Governor Sani said the endorsement represented renewed confidence in his administration’s efforts in security, infrastructure, education, and inclusive governance.
Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has been elected as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.
LEADERSHIP Friday observed that although Chinda, a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, secured votes in the 316 wards in the state.
Announcing the result at the APC collation centre in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the party’s governorship primary election committee, Kwanoti Bitrus, said the federal lawmaker, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, scored a total of 268,497 votes.
In Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, emerged unopposed as the APC governorship flag bearer following the withdrawal of other aspirants and a consensus arrangement by party stakeholders.
The primary election witnessed what party officials described as a massive turnout across the 236 wards in the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun said over 700 aspirants initially showed interest in various elective offices and noted that consultations and consensus-building were adopted to reduce internal friction within the party.
“No one was compelled to step down. There is no winner and no vanquished,” the governor said.
In Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris was affirmed as the APC’s sole governorship candidate after party members from the 225 wards across the 21 local government areas unanimously endorsed him during the primary election held in Birnin Kebbi.
Chairman of the APC election committee from the national secretariat, Abdmalik Mahmud, subsequently declared Idris as the party’s governorship flag bearer for the 2027 election.
Governor Idris thanked delegates and party officials and called for renewed unity among APC stakeholders in the state.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election after 345,375 party members across all wards in the state affirmed his candidacy during the party’s direct primary election.
Governor Oborevwori, who was the sole aspirant, commended the exercise and declared that the APC remained united ahead of the polls.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Engr. Victor Abba, announced the result at the party secretariat in Asaba, venue of the collation centre, declaring Governor Oborevwori as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Delta State.
Dr Obafemi Hamzat emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State ahead of the 2027 election following the party’s direct primary held across the state yesterday.
Hamzat, who currently serves as deputy governor under Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praised the conduct of the exercise, describing the process as peaceful, transparent, and reflective of internal democracy within the APC.
He also commended party members for their turnout and orderly participation during the primary.
In Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio emerged as the APC consensus governorship candidate following consultations among party stakeholders and an affirmation exercise attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Governor Zulum praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Shettima for supporting what he described as a rancour-free process.
Vice President Shettima urged party members to remain united, saying there was “no victor and no vanquished” in the contest.
In his acceptance speech, Gubio promised to consolidate on the achievements of the Zulum administration in education, healthcare, reconstruction, agriculture, and security.
In Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli clinched the APC governorship ticket after sweeping the direct primary election across the 33 local government areas of the state.
Alli defeated 10 other aspirants, winning in 350 out of the 351 wards across the state.
The APC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Olawale Sadare, commended members for what it described as mature and peaceful conduct during the exercise.
Observers attributed Alli’s victory to his grassroots network and widespread acceptability within the party structure.
In Abia State, one of the governorship aspirants, Mascot Uzor Kalu, announced his withdrawal from the race barely 24 hours before the commencement of the primaries.
Kalu, younger brother of former governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, said his decision followed consultations with stakeholders and was based on fairness and equity.
He said since his elder brother had secured the senatorial ticket for Abia North, it was necessary to allow other aspirants to contest the governorship position.
At press time, results of the contest involving former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh, and businessman Eric Opa were still being awaited.
In Plateau State, the APC governorship direct primary election was marred by the late arrival of officials and voting materials in several local government areas.
The exercise involved Governor Caleb Mutfwang and retired naval officer, Commander Yilchin Jan Bida.
Reports from Shendam, Mikang, Wase, Jos North, Jos South, Mangu, and Barki Ladi indicated delays in the commencement of voting, with some party offices remaining deserted hours after the scheduled start of the exercise.
The APC publicity secretary in the state, Bako Wumanna, however, insisted that the process was progressing smoothly despite logistical challenges.
Meanwhile, in Bauchi State, some APC supporters rejected alleged moves to impose a governorship candidate following the postponement of the primary election from Thursday to Friday.
An APC stakeholder, Musa Buba Mohammed, popularly known as “Civilian General”, said party members were demanding a peaceful, transparent, and credible process.
“We do not want imposition. That is our only demand,” he said.
Another party member, Comrade Abdul’Aziz Nasrullah, also called for justice and transparency in the conduct of the governorship primaries.
In Gombe State, APC consensus governorship aspirant, Dr Jamil Gwamna, commended the peaceful conduct of the primaries and urged party members to remain united ahead of the 2027 elections.
He described the APC’s internal process as transparent and participatory, while appealing to contestants to accept the outcome in good faith.
In Rivers State, reactions trailed the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the APC governorship primaries.
Fubara had said his decision was taken in the interest of peace and stability in the state.
A former Rivers State House of Assembly aspirant on the platform of the APC, Solomon Lenu, described the governor’s withdrawal as significant for the political future of the state.
In Katsina, Governor Dikko Radda has also emerged as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the APC announced the rescheduling of the governorship primary elections in Bauchi and Kwara states to Friday, May 22, 2026.
The party also approved the rescheduling of the State House of Assembly primary elections for Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies in Zamfara State to Sunday, May 24, 2026.
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, in a statement on Thursday, said the decision was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) following consultations with relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the decision was taken in furtherance of the party’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, orderly, peaceful, and credible primary election process.
The APC is conducting governorship primary elections across 28 states of the federation on Thursday, while State Houses of Assembly primaries were held on Wednesday.
The chairman of the APC governorship primaries in Kwara State, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the state governorship primary was postponed till Friday due to logistical issues.
Obanikoro disclosed this at the party secretariat in Ilorin while speaking with journalists shortly after meeting APC governorship aspirants behind closed doors.
“We postponed the election due to logistical issues. We came in late and we needed to be fair to all and to be able to have effective management of the election, we needed a full day to do that,” he said.
Obanikoro said the committee was ready and that the election would be held on Friday across the state.
Ten governorship aspirants attended the strategic meeting on Thursday evening.
Those in attendance included Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, Dr Bashir Bolarinwa, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, Engr. Femi Sanni, Dr Tajudeen Alabi, Aisha Ahmad-Pategi, Mohammed Bio, Musiliat Bello-Adebowale, Dr Muideen Salako, and Captain Ahmad Mahmoud.
