The All Progressives Congress (APC) has solidified its position ahead of the 2027 governorship elections, as incumbent governors secured affirmation tickets in several states, while loyalists and preferred successors of influential party figures emerged as candidates in others. Across the country, many primaries ended through consensus arrangements, affirmation votes, and withdrawals in favor of party-backed aspirants, with the ruling party repeatedly describing the exercises as peaceful, transparent, and reflective of internal unity.
Governors Secure Second Term Tickets
Governors seeking second terms clinched tickets in states including Delta, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Niger, while contenders backed by party structures emerged in Lagos, Ogun, Borno, and Oyo states. However, signs of disquiet surfaced in a few states. In Bauchi and Kwara, concerns over transparency and alleged power play trailed the postponement of governorship primaries, even as party leaders insisted the rescheduling was aimed at ensuring credible and orderly exercises. Despite the isolated tensions, the APC used the primaries to reinforce a message of cohesion, continuity, and preparedness ahead of the 2027 general election.
Primaries Postponed in Bauchi and Kwara
The party rescheduled its governorship primary elections in Bauchi and Kwara states to the following day. It also announced the postponement of the State House of Assembly primary elections for Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies in Zamfara State to Sunday, May 24, 2026. In a statement issued by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party said the decision was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) after consultations with relevant stakeholders. According to the statement, the rescheduling formed part of the party's commitment to ensuring transparent, orderly, peaceful, and credible primary elections. The statement did not disclose specific reasons for the postponements.
Hamzat Wins Lagos APC Ticket
In Lagos State, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat emerged as the governorship candidate following the party's direct primary held across the state. Hamzat defeated his main challenger, Lanre Jim-Kamal, to secure the party's ticket after a process party leaders described as peaceful and transparent. Speaking after the exercise, Hamzat commended party members for their turnout and orderly conduct during the primary election. He described the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and reflective of internal democracy within the APC. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who openly backed Hamzat's candidacy, said the direct primary provided grassroots party members the opportunity to freely choose their preferred aspirant. The governor described the exercise as calm, inclusive, and credible. Hamzat's emergence had been widely anticipated following endorsements from key APC structures in Lagos State, including the Governor's Advisory Council (GAC).
Chinda Clinches Rivers Governorship Ticket Unopposed
The APC declared former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, as its governorship candidate in Rivers State. Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Bitrus Kwamoti, announced the result in Port Harcourt after the collation of affirmation votes from the 23 local government areas of the state. Kwamoti, who spoke at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt after receiving results from collation officers, said Chinda was the sole aspirant in the governorship primary election. According to him, Chinda secured a total of 268,497 affirmation votes across the state.
Kano APC Affirms Yusuf as Consensus Candidate
In Kano State, the party affirmed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as its sole consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The endorsement was announced during a party congress held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where party supporters, delegates, and political stakeholders gathered to reaffirm support for the governor's administration. Presenting the motion for Yusuf's adoption, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, praised the governor's leadership style and developmental programs, saying his administration had strengthened public confidence in the party.
Uba Sani Secures Kaduna Ticket with 459,393 Votes
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, emerged as the governorship candidate after securing 459,393 affirmation votes at the party's primary election. Sani, who contested as the sole aspirant, received endorsement from delegates and stakeholders across the state in what party leaders described as a strong vote of confidence in his leadership, performance, and political direction. The primary election, monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), attracted top APC leaders, elected officials, delegates, and supporters from the 23 local government areas of the state.
Yayi Emerges Ogun Candidate After Peaceful Exercise
The governorship primary election across the 20 local government areas of Ogun State ended with the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the party's governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The exercise, which attracted large participation from party members across the state, was described by stakeholders as peaceful, orderly, and free of violence or disruptions. Speaking after participating in the primary election at Ward 3, Iperu 1, in Ikenne Local Government Area, Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed that more than 700 aspirants initially indicated interest in contesting various elective positions on the platform of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. Announcing the result for Ward 3, Iperu 1, the Returning Officer for the governorship primary election in Ikenne Local Government Area, Dr Femi Akinbile, said the ward had 837 registered party members, out of which 832 were accredited for the exercise. According to him, Adeola polled 829 votes, while no other aspirant contested the governorship primary in the ward.
Oborevwori Polls 345,375 Votes in Delta Primary
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 election after securing affirmation from 345,375 party members during the party's direct primary election across the state. Oborevwori, who was the sole aspirant, commended the conduct of the exercise and said the APC remained united ahead of the election. Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Mr Victor Abba, announced the result at the party secretariat in Asaba, the collation centre for the exercise. Abba declared Oborevwori winner of the primary after polling 345,375 votes. Speaking after voting in his ward in Okpe Local Government Area, Oborevwori commended the APC leadership for conducting what he described as a transparent, peaceful, and exemplary primary election.
Alli Sweeps Oyo APC Governorship Contest
Oyo South Senator, Sharafadeen Alli, emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State after sweeping the party's direct primary election across the 33 local government areas of the state. The party, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mr Olawale Sadare, commended members for what it described as their mature and peaceful conduct during the exercise. Sadare described the rancour-free primary as a signal of the party's readiness to reclaim the Agodi Government House in the 2027 governorship election. Alli defeated 10 other aspirants to clinch the ticket, recording victories in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan, four local government areas in Oyo zone, Ogo Oluwa, Surulere, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Oriire, as well as the 13 council areas in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa zones. Out of the 351 wards in the state, the former Secretary to the Oyo State Government won in 350 wards, losing only one ward to another aspirant.
Zulum, Shettima Back Gubio After Borno Affirmation
Mustapha Gubio emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State, following his affirmation by party members in Maiduguri. Before the affirmation, Gubio had emerged as the party's consensus candidate after consultations among key stakeholders in the state. The affirmation ceremony, held at the defunct Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri, was presided over by the chairman of the Borno APC primary election committee, Chief Emma Eneukwu. Speaking shortly after the exercise, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, hailed President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their support and for creating what he described as an enabling environment for a peaceful and rancour-free primary election. In his acceptance remarks, Gubio pledged to build on the achievements of Governor Zulum, with a focus on education, human empowerment, agriculture, and the reconstruction of communities affected by insurgency, among other critical sectors.
Enugu Members Affirm Mbah as Sole Aspirant
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, is set to emerge as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress as party members across the state's 260 wards turned out for the governorship primary election in which he was the sole aspirant. Although collation of results was still ongoing at press time, indications showed that Mbah was on course to secure the party's ticket, with many members citing his performance in office over the past three years as the basis for their support. At Owo Ward in Nkanu East Local Government Area, where the governor participated in the exercise, party members affirmed his candidature with a resounding "yes" after the panel comprising Prince Arinze Arum, Mrs Ngozi Eni, and Osinachi Nnajieze put the question to the gathering. In his remarks, Mbah described the direct primary election as a fruitful and unique exercise that reflected internal democracy and allowed party members to speak directly through the process. He urged party members to remain united ahead of the 2027 general election to ensure victory for the party.
Eight Aspirants Step Down for Seriki in Kwara
Barely hours before the commencement of the postponed primary, eight governorship aspirants stepped down for Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, who is widely regarded as the preferred successor to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Seriki was said to have held strategic meetings with fellow aspirants and key stakeholders in the state, during which many of them reportedly endorsed his candidature in the interest of party unity and continuity of the AbdulRazaq administration's achievements. The aspirants who pledged support for Seriki include Dr Salako Oluwatoyin, Captain Ahmad Mahmoud, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, Dr Mohammed Bio, Dr Toyin Alabi, Hajia Aisha Patigi, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, and the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu Danladi. The meeting reportedly ended with a renewed commitment to party cohesion, issue-based engagement, and a peaceful primary process aimed at strengthening the APC in Kwara State.
Radda is Katsina's APC Governorship Candidate
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Radda, who is seeking a second term in office, was unanimously adopted through an affirmation exercise held at the People's Square opposite the Government House in Katsina. More than 1,000 party delegates participated in the exercise, affirming him as the APC governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 poll. Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Yakubu Maccido, said the governor secured endorsement through a voice vote by delegates and party supporters. According to him, the affirmation followed a unanimous agreement among party stakeholders in the state and reflected the party's resolve to maintain unity ahead of the election. Speaking after the exercise, Radda thanked delegates and party members for giving him another opportunity to contest for a second term in office. The governor assured party members that he would continue to implement policies and programs aimed at improving the lives of residents of the state.
Sokoto, Niger, Katsina Govs Secure Affirmation Tickets
Members of the All Progressives Congress in Sokoto State affirmed Governor Ahmed Aliyu as the party's governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The affirmation took place during the party's governorship primary in Sokoto, where delegates and stakeholders from the state's 244 wards and 23 local government areas endorsed the governor through a consensus arrangement. Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Alhaji Mukhtar Birniwa, said the peaceful outcome of the exercise reflected unity among party members across the state. "The party members across the 244 wards have spoken with one voice in support of Governor Ahmed Aliyu. What we have done here today is to formally affirm that decision," he said. He subsequently declared Aliyu as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Sokoto State. Speaking after the affirmation, Aliyu thanked party members and supporters for the confidence reposed in him. In Niger State, the APC returned Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election. Bago emerged unopposed during the party's governorship primary held at the APC secretariat in Minna. The motion for his adoption was moved by the Niger East senatorial candidate, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, and endorsed by delegates present at the venue. Chairman of the APC Governorship Primaries Electoral Committee, Danladi Abubakar Mohammed, affirmed the decision of party members and formally announced Bago as the APC governorship flagbearer in the state. Speaking after his affirmation, Bago said the consensus endorsement reflected the strong relationship between him and the electorate, as well as the continued support enjoyed by the APC in Niger State.
