The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries held nationwide yesterday produced a mix of major victories, shocking losses, protests, disqualifications, and allegations of manipulation.
No fewer than 44 aspirants were barred from participating in the exercise, including Rivers politicians Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, and former Rivers Head of Service Tammy Danagogo. However, the party later reinstated former Bayelsa East senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, after initially excluding him from the cleared list.
An updated list released by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, showed that Rivers State recorded one of the highest numbers of disqualified aspirants, while Zamfara State had the largest bloc of barred contestants.
Several prominent lawmakers and political heavyweights secured return tickets through consensus or direct victories, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Orji Uzor Kalu, Adams Oshiomhole, Ali Ndume, and Hope Uzodimma. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan also emerged victorious.
In Kogi Central, former governor Yahaya Bello recorded a landslide win with 72,399 votes, while Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the Kogi East result after losing his return ticket, accusing Governor Ahmed Ododo’s camp of hijacking election materials.
In Delta State, Senator Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta Central, while former governor Ifeanyi Okowa defeated incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in Delta North.
Despite controversies and complaints in some states, APC leaders described the primaries as largely peaceful and transparent ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Bayelsa, the party largely adopted the consensus option in the electoral wards across the state except in Bayelsa East where members opted for direct primary.
A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as commending party members for their peaceful conduct and the seamless primaries, noting that there had not been any ugly incident since the exercise began on Saturday with the House of Reps primaries.
He attributed the development largely to the consensus option adopted by the state APC and his administration’s prioritising peace and development over politics.
Ex-PRODA chairman withdraws from Benue South primary, alleges “pre-written” results
Former chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute, PRODA, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, withdrew from the Benue South Senatorial primary election, citing alleged irregularities and lack of transparency in the process for his decision.
In a letter dated March 16, 2026 and addressed to the National Chairman of the APC through the Benue State Chairman of the party and a trending video, Onjeh alleged that the primary process in Benue state, particularly in Benue South Senatorial District, had been compromised by what he described as anti-democratic forces operating within the party.
Zamfara: Consensus all the way
In Zamfara State all the incumbent National Assembly members, House of Representatives and Senate were affirmed and returned through consensus as APC candidates for the 2027 polls.
Incumbent members of the House of Representatives affirmed and returned are:
Kabiru Amadu Mai Palace, Representing Gusau/Tsafe; Abdulmalik Zubairu, Maru/Bungudu; Aminu Sani Jaji, Representing Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji; Bello Hassan Shinkafi, Representing Shinkafi/Zurmi; Abba Ahmed Rufa’i, Representing Bakura/Maradun; Isah Mamman, Representing Anka/Talata Mafara; and Sulaiman Abubakar Gummi, Representing Gummi/Bukkuyum.
Those chosen for Senate are: Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, Zamfara West; Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, Zamfara North; and Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Zamfara Central.
Senator Barau emerges in Kano North
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, emerged as the candidate of the APC for Kano North Senatorial District.The affirmation exercise took place at the APC headquarters in Bichi Local Government Area, amid thousands of party members drawn from the 13 local government areas that make up Kano North
Oshiomhole, Ikpea win Edo North unopposed
A former governor and incumbent Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, along with his counterpart Senator Joe Ikpea, sailed through the APC primary in Edo unopposed, and securing their tickets without a single vote cast against them.
Also Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the winner in the APC primary for the Edo South senatorial district.
Ogbeide-Ihama won in the seven local government areas of Edo South in the results announced by the Chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Election, Muhammed Ajana at the Urokpota Hall, Benin.
He polled 27,154 votes while his opponents, Senator Neda Imasuen, got 13,580, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got 6,785.
The elections were hitch-free in Edo North and Edo Central, where there was no contest against the incumbents, Senators Oshiomhole of Edo North and Ikpea of Edo Central, respectively.
Ajana at the Urokpota Hall said collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards where elections were conducted by members of the committee.
He said, “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District. We have heard from the returning officers from the seven local government areas. From the collation, the cumulative result we have for Edo South Senatorial District is this; Ogbeide-Ihama with 27,154 votes, Imasuen with 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 6, 785.
“This is the total reflection of what has transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this we await further directives from the National Secretariat, we have done our best by collating the results which is our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”
However, it was gathered that Ize-Iyamu emerged as the APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial race. He claimed to have clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Ogbeide-Ihama and Imasuen.
It was claimed that the Chief Returning Officer, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, officially declared Ize-Iyamu the winner after securing the highest number of votes cast.
On his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise, describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.
Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.
The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.
He said, “There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this.”
He said the warning signs emerged days before the primary when some ward chairmen allegedly informed him that they had been directed not to receive him during consultations.
Imasuen claimed that some ward leaders openly told him the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant, identified as Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, making further consultations unnecessary.
Katung defeats Laah, Auta in Zangon Kataf
In Kaduna, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung recorded a landslide victory over former Senator Danjuma Laah and fellow aspirant Michael Ayuba Auta in Kaduna South Senatorial primaries held in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the State.
Katung polled 875 votes, Senator Danjuma Laah came second with 160 votes, while Michael Ayuba Auta scored 102 votes.
Sokoto APC unites behind Wamakko, Danbaba, others, clears NASS aspirants
In Sokoto, the APC handed all NASS members re-election tickets via consensus.
Those endorsed include Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for Sokoto North Senatorial District; Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba for Sokoto South Senatorial District, and Alhaji Umaru Ajiya for Sokoto East Senatorial District.
Similarly, consensus affirmation was conducted for aspirants contesting the House of Representatives seats in 10 federal constituencies across the state.
, while voting reportedly took place in the Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency.
Among those affirmed were Ahmad Kalambaina for Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency, Almustapha Ibrahim for Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency, Hassan Abubakar for Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency, and Nasiru Shehu Bodinga for Bodinga/Tureta/Dange-Shuni Federal Constituency.
Others endorsed by the party include Saidu Mohammed Bargaja, Abubakar Zayyana Gwadabawa, Sa’adu Abubakar Binji, Hon. Garba Musa Mai Tafsiri Yabo and Abba Shehu Tambuwal.
Speaking during the affirmation exercise held at state APC secretariat along Sultan Abubakar road Sokoto, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko described the development as a strong indication of public confidence in the APC at National and state level.
Senate leader clinches third-term ticket, Adaramodu exudes confidence
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, secured his re-election ticket for Ekiti Central unopposed.
Bamidele emerged sole aspirant during the APC senatorial primary held on Monday, describing the development as a demonstration of the confidence and acceptance he enjoys among the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.
Meanwhile, Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, expressed confidence in his chances of emerging victorious in Ekiti South Senatorial district against Senator Biodun Olujimi and Hon Bamidele Faparusi.
Adaramodu insisted that his longstanding loyalty to progressive politics, grassroots relationship and support for students have continued to earn him widespread acceptance among constituents in Ekiti South.
Kebbi APC officially affirms Aliero Kebbi central candidate
In Kebbi State, the party affirmed serving Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero as sole candidate after aspirant Kabir Sani Giant withdrew from the race.
This means Aliero is set to contest for a fourth term in the Senate in 2027.
Ndume returns unopposed as APC senatorial candidate for Borno South
Former Senate Leader, Sen. Ali Ndume, emerged as consensus candidate for Borno South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ndume was affirmed unopposed during the party’s primary held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. His main rival, Abdullahi Askira, withdrew from the race last month.
Sani Bello, Sani Musa retain tickets in Niger
Immediate past governor of Niger State, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello and incumbent Senator Sani Musa emerged by consensus in Niger.
The party adopted consensus for the party’s Senatorial District primary elections for Niger East and Niger North, while the Niger South went for the direct primary to elect its candidate for the senatorial seat.
The APC State Publicity Secretary, Musa D. Sarkin-kaji who confirmed this said aspirants and other stakeholders from Niger North and East adopted consensus while all aspirants from the Niger South refused to step down.
For Niger East, Alhaji Bello Bawa Bwari had to step down at the last minute after much pressure for the incumbent, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa.
Kwara gov squares off against Mustapha
In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday, received massive support from leaders, stalwarts and members of the party in the Kwara Central senatorial district primaries held across four local government areas of the district.
Governor AbdulRazaq is slugging it out with the serving Senator of the district, Mallam Saliu Mustapha despite earlier reports that he is not in the Senate race.
Addressing members of the party in Ibagun Ward, in Ilorin East Local Government, the Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Saadu Salahu said leaders and party faithful are united to ensure the success of APC at all levels in 2027.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the primary election, a stalwart of the party and former member of House of Representatives Hon Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo said the contest between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha received impressive turnout of party loyalists in appreciation of the achievements of APC led government in the state and in the country.
Goje loses as Inuwa-backed candidate clinches ticket in Gombe
Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje lost the ticket of the APC to represent Gombe Central Senatorial District for the fifth term.
In the direct primary election conducted in Akko and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas, two LGAs that make up the district, DCP Mohammed Ahmed (retd) clinched the ticket.
Returning officer of the Election, Dr Habu Dahiru, declared that DCP Ahmed scored 42,785 votes against Senator Goje’s 10,425 votes.
