The ruling All Progressives Congress has concluded senatorial primary elections in several states ahead of the 2027 general elections, with serving governors, former governors, and incumbent lawmakers dominating the contests across the country.
Among the biggest winners in the exercise were seven serving governors who secured APC senatorial tickets in their respective states. They include Abdullahi Sule, Inuwa Yahaya, Hope Uzodimma, Dapo Abiodun, Umaru Fintiri, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and Mai Mala Buni.
The primaries also saw 12 former governors emerge as senatorial candidates of the party. Among them are Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Orji Uzor Kalu, Adams Oshiomhole, Ifeanyi Okowa, Aliyu Wamakko, Gabriel Suswam, Yahaya Bello, Simon Lalong and Ibrahim Shekarau.
Several top-ranking lawmakers also retained their tickets. Akpabio secured the APC ticket for Akwa Ibom North-West, while Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau clinched the Kano North ticket.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele retained the APC ticket for Ekiti Central, while Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu won the party’s primary for Ekiti South.
However, the exercise also produced major upsets as 14 serving senators lost their bids for re-election.
Among those defeated were Ned Nwoko in Delta North, Osita Izunaso in Imo West, Adeniyi Adegbonmire in Ondo Central, and Olajide Ipinsagba in Ondo North.
In Kwara South, Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru lost the APC ticket to former Federal Character Commission chairperson Muheebah Dankaka.
The primaries also reflected ongoing political realignments within the APC, with several defectors either securing tickets or suffering defeats.
In Edo South, Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie defeated Senator Neda Imaseun, who defected from the Labour Party to the APC in 2025. In Bauchi North, Ibrahim Baba defeated Senator Samaila Kaila, who had also joined the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Some politicians stepped down from the race to support stronger contenders. Senator Musa Mustapha withdrew for Buni in Yobe East, while Amos Yohanna stepped down for Fintiri in Adamawa North.
The APC primaries further reinforced the dominance of incumbents in several states. In Lagos State, all three sitting senators retained their tickets, including Tokunbo Abiru, Idiat Adebule and Wasiu Eshinlokun.
In Borno State, incumbent senators Ali Ndume, Tahir Monguno and Kaka Shehu all secured return tickets.
The primaries also produced three female senatorial candidates so far with Idiat Adebule, Ngozi Kene-Chiedu, and Muheebah Dankaka.
Meanwhile, APC senatorial primaries remain pending or inconclusive in some states, including Oyo, Taraba, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Kogi, due to disputes, zoning disagreements, and logistical challenges within the party.