The political atmosphere across Nigeria intensified on Thursday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded governorship primaries in several states ahead of the 2027 general elections, with governors, political heavyweights, and consensus candidates dominating the exercise.
In many states, incumbent governors secured the party’s tickets unopposed or through consensus arrangements, while a few states witnessed keenly contested primaries that produced surprising outcomes.
In Abia State, Eric Opah emerged as the APC governorship candidate after polling 126,977 votes to defeat Henry Ikoh, who garnered 5,905 votes.
The situation in Adamawa State remained uncertain as of press time, although Ahmed Galadima was reported to be leading in the contest.
In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno secured the APC ticket through consensus, while in Bauchi State, the exercise was postponed and scheduled to continue today.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia was also reported to be leading with a wide margin and expected to emerge victorious at the end of the exercise.
In Borno State, Mustapha Gubio emerged as the party’s candidate through consensus, while Governor Bassey Otu secured the APC ticket in Cross River State through the same process.
Delta State recorded one of the highest vote margins as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori polled 345,375 votes to emerge as the APC governorship candidate.
Similarly, Governor Francis Nwifuru and Governor Peter Mbah emerged through consensus arrangements in Ebonyi and Enugu states respectively.
In Gombe State, businessman Jamilu Gwamna defeated former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, after polling 247,161 votes.
Governor Umar Namadi secured the APC ticket in Jigawa through consensus, while Governor Uba Sani emerged victorious in Kaduna State after polling 459,393 votes.
In Kano State, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf secured the APC ticket through consensus, while Governors Dikko Radda and Nasir Idris also retained their party tickets unopposed.
Kwara and Nasarawa states were unable to conclude their exercises as the primaries were postponed till today.
One of the most dramatic outcomes came from Lagos State where Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat emerged as the APC candidate after polling 657,917 votes to defeat Lanre Kamal, who secured just one vote.
In Niger State, Governor Umaru Bago emerged through consensus, while Senator Solomon Adeola clinched the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State after polling 304,055 votes.
The race in Oyo State remained open as Senator Sharafadeen Alli was reportedly leading at the time of filing this report.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas were also projected to emerge victorious based on results from the ongoing exercises.
In Rivers State, Ogundu Kingsley Chinda secured the APC ticket after polling 268,497 votes following the withdrawal of three aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, from the race.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu emerged as the APC candidate in Sokoto through consensus, while Baba Malam Wali was leading comfortably in Yobe State.
In Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal also secured the APC ticket through consensus.
Meanwhile, the party did not conduct governorship primaries in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun states due to their off-cycle election schedules.
Political observers believe the outcome of the APC primaries has further reshaped the political landscape ahead of the 2027 governorship elections, with many states already witnessing intense alignments and realignments among major political actors.
