BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The build-up to the 2027 general elections took a dramatic turn on Monday as the All Progressives Congress was thrown into a wave of political realignments, high-profile defeats, consensus arrangements and disputed victories during its senatorial primaries across the country.
The exercise produced one of the most dramatic outcomes in recent party history, with several political heavyweights — including former governors and influential party figures — losing out, while others secured commanding victories amid intense internal manoeuvring.
Among the major casualties were former Ogun State governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, who stayed away from the Ogun primaries, while former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha suffered a crushing defeat to Governor Hope Uzodimma in Imo West.
In Kogi Central, former governor Yahaya Bello staged a major political comeback after polling 72,399 votes to defeat Ibrahim Yakubu Adoje and Momoh Obaro for the APC ticket.
Similarly, in Delta North, former Delta governor Ifeanyi Okowa defeated incumbent senator Ned Nwoko in a landslide victory, while Senator Ede Dafinone overcame former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta Central.
Several APC powerbrokers, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Ali Ndume and former Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, emerged through consensus arrangements in their respective states.
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun dominated the Ogun East primary, polling 810 votes out of 812 accredited members.
Daniel’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, explained that the former governor stayed away from the exercise to avoid violence.
“We don’t believe our ambition is worth the blood of anyone,” he stated.
In Ogun Central, Senator Shuaib Salisu recorded overwhelming victories across multiple wards to secure the ticket, while Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele emerged candidate for Ogun West through a consensus arrangement.
Confusion, however, trailed the Edo South primary after rival camps announced conflicting results.
While Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama was officially declared winner ahead of Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, another faction reportedly declared Ize-Iyamu winner of the exercise.
Imasuen rejected the process, describing it as manipulated.
“There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of an election,” he said.
In Oyo State, party officials described the exercise across the three senatorial districts as peaceful and orderly, with large turnout recorded in many wards.
Meanwhile, tension erupted in Ebonyi Central after Senator Kenneth Eze was declared winner. The situation reportedly degenerated when suspected aides and loyalists allegedly attacked journalists and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at the collation centre in Onueke.
In Rivers State, Senator Ipalibo Banigo-Harry protested her disqualification from the primaries, describing it as “an injustice to women and experienced legislators.”
“I am a serving senator. I deserve to be cleared,” she insisted, while appealing to President Bola Tinubu and APC leaders to intervene.
In Akwa Ibom North West, Senate President Akpabio emerged unopposed in a carnival-like affirmation exercise held in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
“I am grateful for the trust you have reposed in me. I will continue to work for unity and development,” Akpabio said after his emergence.
Governor Uzodimma secured one of the biggest victories of the primaries after polling 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes in Imo West.
Former Kaduna State governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero also clinched the Kaduna North ticket after defeating two other aspirants in a peaceful contest held in Zaria.
Before the primaries, the APC screening committee disqualified 44 aspirants, sparking protests and allegations of manipulation in several states.
Among those denied clearance were Kola Daisi (Oyo South), former Bayelsa senator Ben Murray-Bruce, and several aspirants from Rivers, Plateau, Cross River, Kebbi, Kwara and Nasarawa states.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party remained committed to transparency and orderliness throughout the process.
Despite controversies in some states, several others embraced consensus arrangements brokered by governors and party leaders to avoid divisive contests ahead of the 2027 elections.
In Borno State, senators Ali Ndume, Mohammed Monguno and Kaka Shehu Lawan all emerged unopposed after affirmation exercises conducted in Maiduguri, while Yobe stakeholders adopted Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senator Ibrahim Bomai and Ahmad Lawan as consensus candidates across the three senatorial districts.
One of the biggest late twists emerged in Kwara State, where reports that Senator Saliu Mustapha had secured clearance to challenge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the Kwara Central ticket disrupted what had earlier been projected as a smooth consensus arrangement.
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2026-05-17