The build-up to Nigeria’s 2027 elections took a dramatic turn Monday as the All Progressives Congress senatorial primaries produced a wave of upsets, consensus arrangements and disputed results across the country.
The exercise saw former governors, serving senators and political power brokers either defeated, affirmed through consensus or locked in internal disputes as the party selected its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Imo State, Gov. Hope Uzodimma defeated former Gov. Rochas Okorocha to win the APC ticket for Imo West Senatorial District, while in Delta North, former Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa defeated incumbent Sen. Ned Nwoko.
In Delta Central, Sen. Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, though Omo-Agege later rejected the result and claimed victory, citing results from ward-level voting.
Several party heavyweights emerged through consensus arrangements, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Sen. Ali Ndume and former Edo State Gov. Adams Oshiomhole.
Former Kogi State Gov. Yahaya Bello staged a political comeback, winning the Kogi Central senatorial primary with 72,399 votes, defeating Ibrahim Yakubu Adoje and Momoh Obaro.
In Kano North, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin emerged through affirmation, while in Ebonyi State, all three incumbent senators were returned through consensus arrangements.
In Edo South, the primary was marked by confusion after rival camps declared separate winners. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama was declared winner by the state collation committee, while another faction announced Sen. Neda Imasuen as the victor. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu also claimed victory in a separate declaration.
Imasuen rejected the process, calling it “a sham of an election” and alleging manipulation.
In Ogun State, several prominent aspirants, including former Govs. Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, stayed away from the exercise amid reports of consensus deals and withdrawals. Gov. Dapo Abiodun described the process as peaceful and orderly.
In Ekiti State, all three serving senators secured return tickets through consensus arrangements. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emerged as the consensus candidate for Ekiti Central.
In Oyo State, party officials described the primaries as peaceful, with large turnout across wards and orderly voting in all senatorial districts.
In Rivers State, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo-Harry protested her disqualification, describing it as unjust and alleging unfair treatment of female aspirants.
In Akwa Ibom North West, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emerged unopposed through an affirmation exercise conducted in his ward.
In Delta Central, official results showed Dafinone won with 116,252 votes to Omo-Agege’s 3,643, while in Delta North, Okowa polled 113,039 votes to defeat Nwoko and other contenders.
In Lagos State, all three serving senators secured tickets through consensus arrangements.
Former Kaduna State Gov. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero won the Kaduna North senatorial primary with 6,060 votes, defeating two other aspirants.
Before the primaries, the APC screening committee disqualified 44 aspirants, triggering protests and disputes across several states. A revised list later reduced the number of affected aspirants without explanation.
High-profile aspirants affected included former senators, ex-governors and several party figures from across the country.
The party said the screenings were aimed at ensuring transparency and internal discipline, though critics accused the process of inconsistency.
In Borno State, all three incumbent senators emerged unopposed through affirmation exercises following withdrawals by challengers.
In Yobe State, party stakeholders adopted consensus candidates for all senatorial districts, while in Kebbi State, former Gov. Adamu Aliero emerged through consensus after rival aspirants stepped down.
In Kwara State, confusion emerged over the senatorial ticket after competing claims surfaced between Sen. Saliu Mustapha and Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, prompting contradictory statements from party officials.
Party leaders said the primaries were conducted under a mix of contested votes, affirmations and negotiated withdrawals aimed at reducing intra-party conflict ahead of 2027.
