APC Guber Primaries: Hamzat, Mbah, Chinda, Oborevwori, Yusuf, Others, Clinch Tickets

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, held its gubernatorial primary elections across the states of the federation, an exercise that has been greeted by mixed reactions.

Among those elected were Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos; Barr. Peter Mbah, Enugu; Solomon Adeola, Ogun; Jamilu Gwamna, Gombe; Sharafadeen Alli, Oyo; Kingsley Chinda, Rivers; Mustapha Gubio, Borno and Uba Sani, Kaduna.

Others were Mohammed Bago, Niger; Umar Namadi, Jigawa;  Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta; Ahmed Aliyu, Sokoto; Nasir Idris, Kebbi; Dikko Radda, Katsina; and Abba Yusuf, Kano.

Although the party has yet to officially announced results of any of the categories since it started days ago, reports from the field indicated that the nearly all the consensus candidates were affirmed at the election venues.

While some of the candidates opposed the idea of consensus and protested the eventual choices by the party, the APC leadership has long advised the aggrieved persons to approach the various appeal committees and it promised to address their concerns.

Lagos: Obafemi Hamzat

The Lagos chapter of the APC, yesterday, affirmed the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as the consensus candidate at a massive turnout by party faithful.

An elated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the electorate for turning out en masse to support Hamzat.

Sanwo-Olu, who arrived at the Ward E3, St Stephens (WAEC) School, Lagos Island polling with his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at 11:44am, participated in the primary election and described the exercise as peaceful, orderly and reflective of internal party democracy.

He noted that the direct primary process allowed party members at the ward level to freely participate in the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate.

Sanwo-Olu noted that electoral officials and party representatives were on ground to ensure a credible exercise, noting the impressive turnout of APC faithful at the ward level.

Sanwo-Olu, who openly declared support for Hamzat, expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious.

Enugu: Peter Mbah

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, was coasting home to secure the APC governorship ticket, as party members turned out en masse across the state’s 260 wards yesterday to participate in the primary election, where he was the sole aspirant.

Although collation was still ongoing as at press time, Mbah looked good to clinch the party’s ticket, as members predicated their support for his second tenure on his outstanding performance in the last three years.

At Owo Ward, Nkanu East Local Government Area, where Mbah participated and was received by party faithful in their thousands, the crowd affirmed Mbah’s candidature with a roaring ‘yes’ when the panel comprising Prince Arinze Arum, Mrs. Ngozi Eni, and Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze put the question.

In his remarks, Governor Mbah said the direct primary election had been a fruitful and unique exercise underlined by internal democracy and the people speaking directly to office seekers.

“Just yesterday (Wednesday), we concluded the direct primaries of all the 24 State Constituencies. It is interesting to note that of those 24 seats, we did not have any two persons that picked forms to vie for one office.

“It is no different with the primary exercises for the Senate and House of Representatives. In fact, in the constituency where we had a second person, in the course of the process, he wrote a letter to the party withdrawing from the contest and pledging his total commitment to support the other candidate.

“Today again, I am the sole aspirant for the governorship ticket of our party. And it has not happened by accident or coercion or cowardice. It happened because our people are not cowardly. It has happened because our people are smart. Our people are wise and they know what is good when they see one.

“So, because we have not created division or disharmony among ourselves, Enugu State APC is largely becoming the standard bearer of what grassroots politics and democracy should be. We are also increasingly becoming a model of how to manage internal politics,” he stated.

He urged party members to remain united going into the 2027 general election in order to record resounding victories.

“This is because once you begin to experience those divisions, implosions, and attrition, then you have already started diminishing your support base, even before you get to the general elections. So, this is why what we have done as a party over the primaries exercises is very, very important,” he concluded.

Kaduna: Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has emerged the sole candidate of the APC for reelection in the 2027 general election.

Sani, who is the sole aspirant, secured an overwhelming 459,393 affirmation votes at the party’s primary election.

Sani received a resounding 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 delegates from the 23 local government areas participated in the primary election, monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Announcing the result, Chairman of the Kaduna APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primary Election Committee, Hon. Hafiz Ibrahim Kawu, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and reflective of the growing unity and internal cohesion within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.

The adoption of the affirmation votes was moved by the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Liman, and was unanimously endorsed by delegates at the venue amid chants and celebrations by party supporters.

Speaking shortly after his affirmation, Sani thanked APC members, stakeholders, and the people of Kaduna State for their 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.

“From infrastructure and education to rural transformation and urban renewal, our administration remains committed to improving the lives of our citizens,” Sani said.

Niger: Mohammed Bago

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Bago has been affirmed the governorship candidate of the APC for the 2027 governorship election.

The affirmation took place at the APC Secretariat in Minna.

Senator Mohammed Sani Musa representing Niger East senatorial district moved the motion for the affirmation and was seconded by the deputy speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Mrs Affiniki Dauda.

Flanked by other members of the National Assembly, Musa declared in his affirmation that, “I Senator Mohammed Sani Musa representing Niger East in the national assembly do hereby move that His Excellency Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago having satisfied the conditions set out in the constitution is affirmed for a second term in office.”

Mrs Affiniki Dauda seconded and when the matter was put to vote it was overwhelmingly carried.

Bago, in his acceptance speech, declared: “I use this medium to accept my nomination, thank you very much.”

Delta: Sheriff Oborevwori

Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has praised the leadership of the APC for conducting what he described as a transparent, peaceful and credible primary elections.

He commended party members across the state for their unity, discipline and commitment to democratic principles.

Speaking shortly after participating in the exercise in his ward in Oha, Okpe Local Government Area yesterday, Oborevwori said the direct primary model adopted by the APC reflected genuine internal democracy and grassroots participation, adding that it should serve as a reference point for political engagement and party administration across the country.

The governor stressed the need to sustain unity within the APC, noting that reconciliation mechanisms would be put in place to address grievances and strengthen party cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, peace, inclusiveness and internal harmony remained critical to building a stronger political structure capable of delivering on its objectives.

Ogun: Solomon Adeola

The senator representing Ogun West in the National Assembly, Solomon Adeola, popularly called “Yayi” yesterday emerged the APC candidate for the 2027 governorship election for the state.

APC leaders and supporters trooped out in their large numbers in the 20 local government areas of the state for the affirmation of the governorship primary.

The exercise, which attracted unprecedented participation and support from party members across the state, was widely adjudged peaceful, orderly, and devoid of violence or disruptions.

Speaking after participating in the election at Ward 3, Iperu 1, in Ikenne Local Government Area, Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed that more than 700 aspirants had initially indicated interest in contesting for various elective positions under the platform of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the governor, the party adopted extensive consultations and consensus-building mechanisms to ensure the emergence of credible candidates while sustaining unity within its ranks.

Oyo: Sharafadeen Alli

Oyo South Senator, Sharafadeen Alli, has clinched the governorship ticket of the APC in Oyo State, sweeping the direct primary election across the 33 local government areas of the state.

This was as the party, in a statement by its spokesperson, Olawale Sadare, commended members for their “mature and peaceful conduct” during the primary.

He describing the rancor-free election as a signal about the readiness of the party to return to Agodi Government House next year.

Alli floored 10 other aspirants slugging it out with him for the ticket, emerging triumphant in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan, four local government areas in Oyo, Ogo Oluwa, Surulere, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Oriire and all 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, losing one to one of his challengers.

Meanwhile, one of the aspirants and former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has raised concerns over alleged irregularities during the primary election.

Adelabu, while speaking with journalists after voting at Ward 9, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, described the exercise in his ward as peaceful, transparent and credible, noting that he enjoyed overwhelming support from party members in the area.

The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) alleged that reports from several wards across the state indicated cases of electoral misconduct, intimidation and manipulation of results.

“In some places, elections did not even take place, yet results were allegedly written and recorded. This is not good for our democracy and something must be done about it,” he stated.

Sokoto: Ahmed Aliyu

The APC in Sokoto State has affirmed its governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu as the gubernatorial candidate for the 2027election.

Aliyu emerged unopposed after all members from 244 council wards in the state endorsed him for the second term.

The chairman electoral committee, Alhaji Mughtar Birniwa said, the consensus method chosen by the members had lessen his job.

In his acceptance speech, Aliyu thanks the people of Sokoto for their continuous support, stating that the affirmation would spur him to do more if given another mandate in 2027.

Kebbi: Nasir Idris

Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, has secured the APC gubernatorial ticket for a second term.

The governor emerged unopposed after APC members from all 225 wards across the state unanimously endorsed him as their candidate.

The affirmation took place at Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi.

Chairman of the Election Committee, Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmud, a former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, said the committee was sent by the APC national headquarters to conduct the governorship primary in Kebbi State.

“Our work here is very simple because the people of Kebbi, especially APC members, have already decided,” Mahmud said.

He confirmed that all 225 wards were represented at the venue, describing it as a signal of victory for the party.

Rivers: Kingsley Chinda

The lawmaker representing the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, has emerged the candidate of the APC in Rivers State.

Chinda, who is the Minority Leader, of the House of Representative, and a strong ally of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, emerged the candidate with a total votes of 268,497 at the party’s gubernatorial primaries election held in various local government areas of the state, yesterday.

The victory as announced by the Chairman of the Committee for the Rivers State APC Governorship primaries election, Kwamoti Bitrus, elicited celebration, as party faithful sighted at the Collation Centre, held at the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt, were thrown into dancing mood.

Declaring the result, the Returning Office, Bitrus said the total number of voters were 297,068, while number votes cast in Chinda’s favour was 268,497.

Bitrus thanked the party’s faithful, especially the State APC chairman, Tony Okocha and Rivers people for the peace experienced all through the exercise.