Yesterday’s primaries, the third in the party’s schedule, were expected to be held in 28 states but were suspended in Kwara and Bauchi states due to heightened tension and logistical challenges.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s defeat of the immediate past Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, was one of the highlights of yesterday’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Alli, who won in all 33 local government areas, will be the APC standard-bearer for Oyo State in the February 16, 2027 election.
In Rivers State, former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, emerged as the APC governorship candidate after winning yesterday’s primary.
In Lagos and Ogun states, the widely expected winners – Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi – coasted to victory in the direct primary mode adopted for the shadow election.
Yesterday’s primaries, the third in the party’s schedule, were expected to be held in 28 states but were suspended in Kwara and Bauchi states due to heightened tension and logistical challenges.
According to officials of the APC National Secretariat, the exercises will now hold today.
The presidential primary will round off the exercise tomorrow.
Senator Adeola polled 304,055 votes to confirm his Ogun State ticket.
His opponent Abayomi Hunye recorded zero.
All serving governors seeking re-election secured the endorsement of party members.
They include Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, Kano State Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
In Borno State, Mustapha Gubio was affirmed as the party’s candidate unopposed.
To secure his ticket, Hamzat polled 657,917 votes to defeat his only opponent, Laraen Jim-Kamal, a veteran teacher, who scored one vote.
Before the postponement of the shadow poll in Kwara State, five aspirants stepped down for Abdulfatai Seriki, the preferred aspirant of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Sani, the sole candidate of the Kaduna APC, polled 459,393 affirmation votes at the primary held in Kaduna, the state capital.
Chairman of the Kaduna APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primary Committee, Hafiz Ibrahim Kawu, who announced the result, said the exercise was peaceful, transparent and reflective of the growing unity within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 polls.
The adoption of affirmation votes was moved by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, and unanimously endorsed by delegates.
Sani thanked party members, stakeholders and the people of Kaduna State for what he described as an overwhelming demonstration of trust and solidarity.
“We have made significant progress in restoring peace, strengthening unity and expanding development across Kaduna State through dialogue, inclusion and people-oriented policies,” he said.
The Kano governor emerged unopposed following a motion for his adoption as a consensus candidate moved by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and seconded by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South).
Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, said the endorsement reflected Yusuf’s dedication to governance and public service.
Yusuf thanked party leaders, delegates and supporters for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to implement people-oriented projects in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and infrastructure.
Dr. Hamzat called for the sustenance of unity and peace in the state chapter of the APC ahead of next year’s polls.
He urged party faithful to troop out tomorrow to honour the ruling party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been collectively endorsed for re-election by the platform.
Hamzat said harmony and cohesion should be sustained, urging anyone who feels aggrieved at the shadow polls to maintain calm, shun violence or any unruly behaviour and maintain permanent fidelity to the party.
The deputy governor spoke in Epe, shortly after participating in the direct governorship primary where party members chose between him and another aspirant, Laraen Jim-Kamal, a veteran teacher.
The party’s electoral officer, Kayode Elesin, a former Kosofe Council vice chairman, welcomed the Chairman of the National Assembly and Governorship Primary Committee, Gen. Jon Temlong, and his team, who were accompanied by Alhaji Mutiu Are, state party chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, House of Representatives member James Faleke, Works Special Adviser Adekunle Olayinka, former Head of Service Adesegun and Sesan Daini.
Also at the venue were members of the Primary Appeal Committee, led by Senator Uche Ekwunife from Anambra State.
Hamzat and his wife, Remi, stood on the long queue to be counted, amid hailings by townspeople in appreciation of imminent power shift to the division.
At the Ansar-U-Deen Primary School, Alawaye, venue of the Ward A Four, 2,210 party members voted for Hamzat.
The ward results were attested to by the deputy governor’s agent, Musbau Agoro, and Mathew Ariyo, who stood as Kamal’s agent.
The deputy governor, who was impressed by the show of township solidarity, thanked the party members for their love and support.
Ojelabi commended party members for the huge turn out for the primary, urging them to sustain the enthusiasm and commitment during tomorrow’s presidential primary and general elections.
Gen. Temlong expressed satisfaction with the orderliness, saying that democracy has taken roots.
He said his experience during the National Assembly and governorship shadow polls convinced him about the beauty of popular rule and freedom of choice.
Temlong urged party members to always elevate the collective interest of the party above personal interest, adding that they should avoid violence and any form of bitterness.
He also lauded President Tinubu for his infrastructural development of the country, stressing that the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway is a beauty to behold.
He said: “We have seen the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, and by the grace of God, it will be commissioned before 2031.”
Hailing the party members for their peaceful and orderly conduct, he suggested that elderly people should be allowed to be at the front in the long queue while the younger ones line up behind them.
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu secured affirmation as the sole governorship candidate of the ruling APC yesterday.
The endorsement, backed by delegates from all political wards across the state, signaled growing unity within the party. It also set the tone for early political activities in the Southsouth state.
This affirmation came during a high-level party engagement in the state, where a national delegation led by the APC Deputy National Treasurer Ben Akak commended the level of support and mobilisation across the 18 local government areas.
He described the turnout as massive and deeply impressive, noting that the governor has consistently delivered on responsibilities assigned to him by the national leadership of the party.
Akak also highlighted the governor’s achievements in infrastructure development, entrepreneurship support, pension reforms, and inclusive governance, particularly in the area of women participation.
Otu expressed appreciation for the endorsement, describing it as a renewed call to greater service.
He said his administration has already laid solid foundations for economic sustainability and assured that the second term would focus on completing ongoing projects and expanding development across the state.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago secured the party’s ticket as consensus candidate at the primary held at the APC secretariat in Minna, the state capital, following a motion by the Niger East senatorial candidate, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa.
Chairman of the Primary Committee, Danladi Abubakar Mohammed, affirmed the decision and announced Bago as the candidate.
Bago said the consensus underscored the strong bond between him and the electorate, as well as their unwavering support for the APC in the state.
He said: “We are grateful and we are not going to take it for granted.”
The governor added that a reconciliation mechanism had been activated to pacify aggrieved aspirants after the primaries.
“A lot will have to be done to pacify and talk to the other people who lost, and the machinery for reconciliation has been set up and the elders are already working on it. I will lead that team; we will talk to people,” he said.
Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, emerged as the Rivers APC governorship candidate at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Chairman of the Governorship Primary Committee and Returning Officer, Bitrus Kwamoti, announced that Chinda polled 268,497 votes from the 23 local government areas.
He stated: “I, Kwamoti Bitrus, Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, have been certified as the Returning Officer for the Rivers State Governorship Primary Election held on this 21st day of May, 2026.
“The name of the aspirant, who is the sole aspirant, is Chinda Ogundu Kingsley. He scored a total of 268,497 votes.
“Ogundu Kingsley, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner of the primary election and returned elected as the party’s governorship candidate for Rivers State.”
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who scored 33,868 votes out of the 34,085 votes cast, won the primary election.
Oborevwori, who polled 345,375 votes as the sole aspirant, was affirmed by party members across the 270 wards in the state.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Committee and Returning Officer, Victor Abba, announced the result at the party secretariat in Asaba.
Abba said the governor satisfied the constitutional requirements and scored the highest number of valid votes cast.
He commended party members for their maturity, unity and peaceful conduct, noting that the primary reflected the growing strength of the APC in Delta State.
Abba also praised the governor for infrastructural development and people-oriented programmes, saying the administration had strengthened the acceptance of the APC across the state.
Speaking after casting his vote in Oha Ward, Okpe Local Government Area, Oborevwori described the primary as transparent, peaceful and exemplary.
The governor said the large turnout of party members demonstrated grassroots participation and confidence in his leadership.
“I must sincerely appreciate our great party, the APC, for the transparent and exemplary model adopted for this primary election. It is a model worthy of emulation by other political parties,” he said.
He noted that the peaceful conduct of the primary marked a departure from previous political traditions in the state.
“For the first time in Delta State, our primaries were conducted peacefully without violence, crisis or loss of lives. Nobody imposed candidates on the people. The people freely chose those they wanted,” Oborevwori added.
Radda, who was endorsed as the consensus candidate by 2,872 delegates at the People’s Square, Government House, Katsina, thanked the party for its support.
The delegates comprised 918 from Local Government Executive Committees, 37 from the State Executive Committee, 109 statutory delegates and 1,805 ward-level delegates.
Three additional delegates represented the National and Zonal Executive Committees.
Chairman of the Affirmation Committee, Dr. Yakubu Ahmed Maccido, said the primary was conducted in strict compliance with the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.
“The affirmation process was conducted through a voice vote, which reflected overwhelming support for Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.
“The outcome reflects the unity and collective resolve of APC members in Katsina State ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari thanked Allah for the peaceful conduct of the poll.
Party members across the 329 wards voted for Governor Umo Eno as the candidate at the primary monitored by INEC.
The governor, who had been endorsed as the consensus candidate, cast his vote at his ward in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
The Governorship Primary Committee for Gombe State declared Dr. Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna as the APC governorship candidate.
Gwamna polled 247,161 votes to defeat two other aspirants — former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who scored 12,120 votes, and former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’id Ahmed Alkali, who polled 11,612 votes.
Announcing the result after collation from the 11 local government areas, Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, Senator Sani Danladi, said the exercise was conducted peacefully, transparently and in line with party guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act.
Danladi commended party members across the state for their orderly conduct and impressive turnout during the direct primary election, describing the process as a demonstration of the APC’s strength, unity and grassroots acceptability in Gombe State.
The collation process held at the APC State Secretariat in Gombe was monitored by INEC officials led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, Alhaji Umar Mukhtar Gajiram, as well as observers, security personnel, the media and senior party officials.
Pantami and Alkali had withdrawn from the election over alleged lack of inclusivity.
Senator Alli, who won in all 33 local government areas, thanked party members in a statement issued by his spokesman, Olawale Sadare.
He applauded their “mature and peaceful conduct,” describing the rancour-free election as a signal of the party’s readiness to return to Agodi Government House next year.
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru assured Ebonyi residents of a more decisive, focused and result-oriented administration after picking the ticket.
He spoke at the primary held at his Enyanwigwe Ward in Izzi Local Government Area.
Nwifuru said the massive turnout of party faithful and supporters at the exercise was a reflection of the achievements recorded by his administration in almost three years in office, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education and human capital development.
The governor said the next phase of his administration would be driven by stronger commitment to governance, accelerated rural development and improved delivery of projects across the state.
Nwifuru said: “We’ll be more decisive in taking actions, more focused and more hardworking. These are the things Ebonyi people should expect.”
The governor defended the adoption of direct primary by the APC, describing the Option A4 voting system as one of the most credible democratic processes because it gives party members the opportunity to choose candidates directly.
He added: “If you lose, you see it. If you win, you see it. Once you impose candidates, people may not come out to support them during elections.”
Nwifuru also highlighted key projects executed by his administration across the 13 local government areas of the state, insisting that his government had remained faithful to the manifesto presented to the people in 2023.
He listed ongoing and completed projects to include the dualisation of roads in Abakaliki, construction of rural concrete roads, bridges in Ezza North and Ivo local government areas, as well as several community road projects across Izzi, Ohaukwu, Ikwo, Ishielu, Afikpo, Ohaozara and Onicha councils.
In the health sector, the governor said his administration had completed 26 primary healthcare centres and upgraded general hospitals with modern equipment, ambulances and improved manpower.
He disclosed that doctors’ salaries in the state were increased from about N150,000 to over N500,000 monthly as part of efforts to attract and retain qualified medical personnel.
According to him, the state government also established a diagnostic centre equipped with MRI machines, CT scan facilities and dialysis equipment, alongside the introduction of an emergency ambulance response system through the 112 emergency line.
On education and human capital development, Nwifuru said the government had sustained postgraduate scholarship schemes for Ebonyi youths, covering tuition, accommodation and living expenses for master’s and PhD programmes.
He said: “We want our youths to become employable. Study well, get good results and government will sponsor your master’s and PhD free of charge.”
The governor maintained that his administration remained committed to development-driven governance, stressing that leadership must translate into visible projects and improved welfare for the people.
Party sources said Bauchi APC leaders were still considering modalities for a consensus candidacy as part of efforts to avoid division within the chapter.
A chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said governorship aspirants had been summoned to Abuja to explore a consensus arrangement.
“The aspirants have been summoned to Abuja because the party is considering consensus instead of the direct primary. Since the election has been shifted to Friday, the final decision may be announced tomorrow,” he said.
However, the push for a consensus candidate has fuelled allegations that an aspirant may be imposed.
One of the aspirants, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, had earlier withdrawn from the race, citing alleged irregularities associated with the primary.
Aggrieved stakeholders loyal to one of the governorship aspirants, Dr. Nura Manu Soro, yesterday stormed the hotel where members of the APC electoral committee were lodged to protest the postponement of the primary.
Speaking during the protest, a party chieftain, Musa Buba Mohammed, accused some party leaders of attempting to undermine internal democracy through consensus rather than allowing members to vote freely.
He said the postponement of the primaries in Bauchi and Kwara states, while several other states conducted theirs, had fuelled suspicion among party supporters.
Mohammed appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow democratic principles to prevail within the party, insisting that members would only accept a process that reflects the will of the majority.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Bauchi State APC Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan Tilde, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls made to his telephone line.
Obanikoro: why we postponed Kwara APC primary
Although a party source said the primary was postponed in Kwara following the withdrawal of five aspirants who decided to support Seriki, Chairman of the Governorship Primary Committee, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the exercise was rescheduled because of logistical issues.
“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, who held a meeting with aspirants at the party secretariat in Ilorin, said the primary would hold today.
He urged party members to see the victory of any aspirant as a collective victory for the success of the party.
“We should see victory belonging to one as belonging to all. Nobody should take the victory of a member of his family as something against his personal interest, if it is true that the interest of the party is supreme.
“It is a family meeting. I am a member of APC from Lagos and I am here to have a conversation with members of the APC family.
“On this particular day, we met on the issue of governorship primaries coming up tomorrow, and we sat down to have a frank conversation with ourselves that we are all members of one family,” he added.
