In a decisive show of political strength, top-ranking senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured their party nominations Monday, reinforcing the party’s dominance ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, former Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu, and former Senate Leader Ali Ndume all clinched APC tickets for another term in the Senate. While Akpabio, Jibrin, Bamidele, and Ndume were affirmed either unopposed or by consensus, Kalu recorded a landslide victory over his lone challenger in Abia North.
In Akwa Ibom, thousands of APC supporters gathered at Methodist School Ukana to affirm Akpabio’s candidacy for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. The Senate President, the sole aspirant, received overwhelming support amid carnival-like celebrations, with party faithful lauding his track record as commissioner, governor, minister, and Senate President. Akpabio pledged continued quality representation and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies.
Similarly, Barau was unanimously affirmed as the APC candidate for Kano North, receiving strong endorsements from local party officials and INEC monitors. In Ekiti State, Opeyemi Bamidele was returned unopposed for Ekiti Central, while Orji Uzor Kalu scored a commanding victory in Abia North, polling 65,651 votes to defeat his rival’s 2,103. In Borno, Ali Ndume was affirmed unopposed, marking a potential fifth term if re-elected.
Elsewhere, Edo State saw incumbents Adams Oshiomhole and Joseph Ikpea Igiagbe secure their tickets, while Delta’s primaries produced notable victories for Ede Dafinone and Ifeanyi Okowa. Kaduna State’s primaries returned former governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Senator Sunday Katung, and Shehu Sani as winners in their respective districts.
In a strategic move, Sokoto East Senator Ibrahim Lamido opted out of re-election, citing the need for executive power to tackle insecurity, and set his sights on the governorship. Imo State’s primaries saw Governor Hope Uzodimma, Patrick Ndubueze, and Alex Mbata emerge as senatorial candidates. In Kwara, Saliu Mustapha confirmed his gubernatorial ambitions, clarifying he never contested the Senate primaries.
Controversies also surfaced, with Ogun Deputy Governor Noinmot Salako-Oyedele missing from the cleared aspirant list despite active campaigning. In Plateau, the APC committee validated Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi as the legitimate winner of the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam House of Representatives primary after earlier conflicting results.
Meanwhile, the PDP in Bauchi State affirmed 12 candidates for the House of Representatives primaries, signaling the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 elections, the outcomes of these primaries highlight the APC’s consolidation in strategic states and the high stakes for both the ruling party and the opposition.
