The All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, with incumbent governors and party-backed loyalists emerging victorious in governorship primaries conducted across several states.
The exercises, held in different parts of the country on Thursday, were largely characterised by consensus arrangements, affirmation votes and withdrawals in favour of preferred aspirants, as the ruling party projected an image of unity and internal stability ahead of the polls.
Among governors who secured return tickets were Uba Sani, Sheriff Oborevwori, Dikko Radda, Ahmed Aliyu and Mohammed Umaru Bago, all of whom emerged through affirmation or consensus processes.
In Lagos State, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat clinched the APC governorship ticket after defeating Lanre Jim-Kamal in the party’s direct primary election conducted across the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who openly supported Hamzat’s candidacy, described the process as peaceful, transparent and reflective of internal democracy within the party.
In Rivers State, former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, emerged as the APC governorship candidate after securing 268,497 affirmation votes as the sole aspirant in the primary election.
The result was announced in Port Harcourt by the chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Bitrus Kwamoti.
In Kano State, the APC affirmed Abba Kabir Yusuf as its sole consensus governorship candidate during a congress held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau praised Yusuf’s leadership and developmental programmes, saying they had strengthened public confidence in the party.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani also secured the APC ticket after polling 459,393 affirmation votes in the party’s governorship primary monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli emerged as the APC governorship candidate after defeating 10 other aspirants in a direct primary election conducted across the 33 local government areas of the state.
The party described the exercise as peaceful and a sign of its readiness to reclaim the Agodi Government House in 2027.
Alli reportedly won 350 out of the 351 wards in the state, recording victories across Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun, Ibarapa and Oyo zones.
In Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola emerged as the APC governorship candidate after a peaceful primary election across the state’s 20 local government areas.
Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed that more than 700 aspirants initially expressed interest in contesting various elective offices under the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori secured the APC governorship ticket after polling 345,375 affirmation votes in the party’s direct primary election.
Speaking after the exercise in Asaba, Oborevwori commended the APC leadership for conducting what he described as a transparent and peaceful process.
In Borno State, Mustapha Gubio emerged as the party’s consensus governorship candidate following consultations among key stakeholders.
Governor Babagana Zulum later praised President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for supporting a peaceful and rancour-free primary process.
In Enugu State, indications showed that Governor Peter Mbah was on course to secure the APC governorship ticket after party members across the state reportedly affirmed him as the sole aspirant.
Elsewhere, eight governorship aspirants in Kwara State stepped down for Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, widely regarded as the preferred successor to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Despite the largely peaceful exercises, concerns emerged in some states, particularly Bauchi and Kwara, where allegations of power play and lack of transparency trailed the postponement of governorship primaries.
The APC, however, insisted that the postponements were aimed at ensuring credible, orderly and peaceful exercises.
The party also announced the rescheduling of governorship primaries in Bauchi and Kwara to Friday, while State House of Assembly primaries for Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies in Zamfara State were moved to May 24, 2026.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the decisions were approved by the National Working Committee after consultations with stakeholders as part of efforts to guarantee transparent and credible primary elections nationwide.