A wave of upsets and consensus agreements has reshaped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following its nationwide senatorial primaries.
The high-stakes exercise saw veteran politicians crash out while others consolidated their power.
Former governors Gbenga Daniel (serving senator) and Ibikunle Amosun (one-time senator) boycotted the Ogun primaries, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma handed ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha a defeat in Imo West.
Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa unseated incumbent Ned Nwoko (Delta North), and Senator Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central).
In Kogi, former Governor Yahaya Bello staged a massive comeback, winning the Kogi Central ticket in a landslide with 72,399 votes.
Reports from APC Secretariat indicate that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Ali Ndume, and Adams Oshiomhole all cruised to victory uncontested via consensus or affirmation.
In Edo South, confusion trailed the APC primary after two separate victory claims emerged from rival camps.
Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama was officially declared winner by the APC collation committee after polling 27,154 votes ahead of Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
However, another faction reportedly declared Ize-Iyamu winner of the contest.
Imasuen rejected the entire process, describing it as manipulated.
“There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of an election,” he said. “Some ward chairmen openly told me the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant.”
In Oyo, the party recorded what officials described as a largely peaceful and orderly conduct of its senatorial primaries across the three senatorial districts of the state.
In Ebonyi State, the three APC incumbent senators — Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South), Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North), and Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central) —were returned as the party’s candidates following what officials described as strict adherence to a consensus arrangement.
Their emergence came amid a relatively calm collation process in parts of the state.
However, tension erupted at the senatorial collation centre in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area, shortly after Senator Kenneth Eze was declared winner for Ebonyi Central by the electoral committee chairman, Senator Anthony Agbo.
The situation degenerated when journalists covering the exercise approached the senator for comments.
Eyewitnesses said Eze became visibly agitated and accused some journalists of misrepresentation, refusing to grant interviews.
Attempts by the Ebonyi State NUJ Chairman, Samson Nwafor, to calm the situation reportedly failed, as suspected aides and loyalists of the senator allegedly attacked journalists and NUJ members at the venue, including Kizito Nwankwo.
The incident created panic at the collation centre, overshadowing what had earlier been described as a peaceful exercise.
In Ogun State, the APC senatorial primaries were marked by confusion over participation, high-profile withdrawals, and consensus arrangements across the three senatorial districts.
Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former Governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun were notably absent from the exercise in their respective senatorial districts, despite earlier indications of interest.
In Ogun West, reports indicated that only placards of Jimoh Ojugbele were displayed for voting, suggesting a consensus arrangement.
A party source said all aspirants, including the deputy governor, stepped down for Ojugbele.
Daniel’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, said the former governor stayed away from the primary for safety reasons, adding that the decision was to avoid violence.
“We don’t believe our ambition is worth the blood of anyone,” he said, noting that Daniel remained loyal to the party despite withdrawing from the contest.
Governor Abiodun, however, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly across the state.
Speaking after voting in Ogun East, where he polled 810 votes out of 812 accredited members, Abiodun dismissed claims of violence and maintained that the process reflected genuine democracy.
He also said that Daniel scored zero votes across wards where results were declared, including Ward 9 (Ode Remo), Ward 10, and Ward 2 (Isara), where Abiodun polled 1,116, 714, and 532 votes respectively.
In Ogun Central, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu recorded a landslide victory over Senator Gbenga Obadara.
In Ogun West, Hon. Jimoh Olusola Ojugbele emerged as the APC candidate to replace Sen. Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), the party’s governorship consensus candidate in a peaceful and orderly exercise.
In Ekiti State, all three incumbent senators secured return tickets for the APC ahead of 2027 – Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emerged as the consensus candidate for Ekiti Central with 29,586 “yes” votes.
For Ekiti South, Senator Yemi Adaramodu defeated former senator Biodun Olujimi with 12,200 votes against 7,420.
In Ekiti North, Senator Cyril Fasuyi also secured the ticket with 14,179 votes, defeating Senator Ayo Arise, who polled 4,868 votes.
In Rivers State, Senator Ipalibo Banigo-Harry, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, protested her disqualification from the APC senatorial primaries.
Banigo-Harry, a serving senator and former deputy governor of Rivers State, described her exclusion as “an injustice to women and experienced legislators,” insisting she remained qualified to contest.
Speaking in Obuama, Degema LGA, shortly after receiving supporters at her ward, she questioned the decision of the party’s screening committee.
“I am a serving senator. I deserve to be cleared. National politics is where you bring out your best so that you can also bring the best back to your state,” she said.
She urged party leaders to reconsider her case, appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership.
“I do not want anyone to be agitated. I believe our President is gender sensitive,” she said.
“He has consistently advocated that qualified women should be given a chance when they are qualified.”
Banigo-Harry argued that female representation in the Senate remained low and required deliberate inclusion.
In contrast to the tension in Rivers, Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District witnessed a smooth and celebratory affirmation process, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio emerged unopposed as the APC candidate.
Akpabio, who is the sole aspirant, participated in the affirmation exercise at his ward centre in Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, amid a carnival-like atmosphere.
Party members, who trooped out in large numbers, described him as a “tested leader,” citing his past roles as governor, senator, minister, and currently Senate President.
The Returning Officer, Gabriel Ekong, commended the turnout and orderly conduct of party members during the exercise.
In his remarks, Akpabio thanked party faithful for their continued confidence in him and pledged to intensify efforts toward effective representation.
“I am grateful for the trust you have reposed in me. I will continue to work for unity and development,” he said.
A similar pattern of decisive outcomes emerged in Delta Central Senatorial District, where incumbent Senator Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, in a landslide APC primary.
According to official results, Dafinone polled 116,252 votes, while Omo-Agege scored 3,643 votes across the eight local government areas of the district.
The exercise, which was collated and announced by the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, was described by party stakeholders as peaceful and competitive.
The APC Chairman in Delta Central, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, described the process as peaceful and orderly, saying no violence was recorded.
Former Governor of Delta State and former Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, clinched the APC ticket for Delta North Senatorial District after defeating incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko and Mrs. Miriam Ali in a decisive primary election.
kowa recorded a landslide victory across all nine local government areas of the district.
Announcing the results at the APC State Secretariat in Asaba, the Returning Officer, Prof. Tonukari Johnbull, said Okowa polled a total of 113,039 votes, while Nwoko scored 2,612 votes and Ali recorded 40 votes.
“The results of this primary election will be forwarded to the National Working Committee of the APC through the Delta State leadership of the party,” he said.
Breaking down the results, Johnbull noted that Okowa dominated across all local government areas. In Aniocha North, he polled 5,480 votes against Nwoko’s 1,343 votes, while Ali recorded none.
However, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege declared himself victorious, citing “a decisive win across all 85 wards in the district’s 8 local government areas.”
In a statement he personally issued after Monday’s election, Senator Omo-Agege thanked party leaders, delegates, and members for what he described as “resolute support and historic turnout.”
He said collated results showed “long open secret balloting queues in my favour,” which he called evidence of an overwhelming mandate for his shared vision with the APC in Delta Central.
“Based on collated results from all 85 wards across our eight Local Government Areas, we have won decisively. Across the senatorial district, there were long open secret balloting queues in my favour, reflecting your overwhelming mandate and commitment to our shared vision for Delta Central and the APC.
“This outcome is a clear endorsement of our mission to strengthen the party and deliver stronger representation at the national level. I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me, and inspired by the unity, discipline, and order displayed at every ward voting centre.”
In Lagos State, the APC also returned all three serving senators – Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni (Lagos Central), and Idiat Adebule (Lagos West), through consensus arrangements.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was declared the winner of the senatorial primary election for Imo West Senatorial District.
The declaration was made on Monday by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Primary Elections Committee for Imo State, Rear Admiral Kayode Williams (retd.), who also served as the Returning Officer for the exercise.
Announcing the result, Williams said Uzodimma polled a total of 230,464 votes to defeat former Governor Rochas Okorocha, who scored 1,098 votes in the contest.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, emerged as the candidate for the Kaduna North Senatorial District.
Yero secured the ticket after defeating two other aspirants in a primary election held in Zaria on Monday, in a process that party officials described as peaceful and orderly.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Hassan Saleh, declared that Yero polled a total of 6,060 votes to defeat his closest rival, Muhammad Mukaddas, who scored 1,044 votes, while Yusuf Ikara came third with 372 votes.
A former deputy governor, Yero served as Kaduna State governor between December 2012 and May 2015 following the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State.
Prior to that, he had served as deputy governor from 2010 and commissioner for finance between 2007 and 2010.
Before the primaries, 44 aspirants were disqualified by the APC screening committee, a development that immediately triggered protests, confusion and allegations of manipulation in several states.
The list, released by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, showed that the affected aspirants were officially marked “Not Cleared” following the screening exercise conducted by the party.
Among the high-profile aspirants denied clearance was Oyo South hopeful, Mr. Kola Daisi, alongside several political heavyweights from Rivers, Zamfara, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bayelsa, Cross River and other states.
The affected aspirants include Hamish Idris and Abdurman Kwacham from Adamawa North; Donald Daunemigita from Bayelsa West; Senator Benson Agadaga from Bayelsa East; Daniel Asuquo from Cross River South; and Oden Ewa from Cross River Central.
Others listed as “Not Cleared” include Dr. Marian Ogoh-Ali from Delta North; Senator Usman Wowo and Abubakar Abdullahi from the FCT; Adam Mohammed from Jigawa South/West; Senator Garba Mai Doki from Kebbi South; and Kollo Jiya from Kwara North.
The Oyo State chapter also recorded a wave of disqualifications involving Ademola Alli, Ajimobi Adegboyega, Faozey Nurudeen, Hameed Repete and Akinremi Bolaji.
Rivers State witnessed one of the heaviest casualties as prominent figures such as Chief Tamunobaabo Danagogo, Tein Jack-Rich, Ipalibo Banigo and Chief Barry Mwara were all denied clearance.
In the list released earlier, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and four others were among 47 aspirants marked ‘Not cleared.’
However, an updated list was later released which reduced the number of affected aspirants from 47 to 44, with no explanation offered for the deletions, adding to the confusion which has clouded the exercise.
Morka stated, “The All Progressives Congress hereby releases an updated list of Senatorial aspirants not cleared to participate in the Party’s Senate Primary Elections. The APC urges all stakeholders to uphold transparency, orderliness, and the integrity of the ongoing Primary Election process.”
Murray-Bruce, who had represented Bayelsa East in the Senate, was among the most prominent names on the initial list released earlier the same day. His removal from the updated list, without any statement on his clearance status, was not explained by the party.
Also dropped from the list were Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue (Anambra North), Gyang Yaya Zi San. (Plateau North), Napoleon Binkap Bah (Plateau South), and Usman Ephraim Gar (Plateau Central).
Two new names were added, Ibrahim Bala (Nasarawa West), listed as not cleared, and Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa West), who was recorded as having voluntarily withdrawn.
The updated list also revised the status of some aspirants previously marked as “not cleared.”
Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East) and Donald Daunemigita (Bayelsa West) were reclassified as voluntary withdrawals, while Garba Musa Mai Doki (Kebbi South) was listed as having defected, and Adam Mouktar Mohammed (Jigawa South/West) was recorded as having failed to appear for screening.
Despite mounting outrage from aspirants and supporters, the APC leadership has yet to officially explain the reasons behind the widespread non-clearance.
While some states descended into chaos, others quietly embraced consensus arrangements brokered by powerful party leaders and governors determined to avoid bruising contests.
In Borno State, the three incumbent APC senators, Ali Ndume, Mohammed Monguno and Kaka Shehu Lawan, all emerged unopposed after affirmation exercises conducted in Maiduguri.
Ndume’s emergence followed the withdrawal of his main challenger, Abdullahi Askira, after consultations with party elders and stakeholders.
Speaking after his affirmation, Ndume praised Askira for bowing to pressure from party leaders in the interest of unity.
“I want to thank our elders in Borno South Senatorial District for their unwavering support. I will continue to promote their interests at all times,” Ndume said.
He further urged APC stakeholders to remain united and continue working together “as one political family” ahead of the general elections.
A similar consensus arrangement unfolded in Yobe State, where party stakeholders adopted Governor Mai Mala Buni for Yobe East, Senator Ibrahim Bomai for Yobe South and former Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan for Yobe North.
In Kebbi State, former governor Adamu Aliero also emerged through consensus after rival aspirants stepped down.
“The peaceful outcome of this primary election has shown that APC in Kebbi is united and focused on victory,” Aliero declared after his affirmation.
The biggest drama unfolded in Kwara State, where a presumed consensus arrangement descended into chaos.
The confusion began following reports that Senator Saliu Mustapha had been cleared to challenge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the Kwara Central ticket—a development that stunned stakeholders who expected the governor to run unopposed.
Initially, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Communication Strategy, Ibraheem Akolu, released a statement insisting AbdulRazaq was the sole cleared aspirant.
Akolu stated that the primary across the 52 wards in Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, and Ilorin West was “essentially to affirm the candidature of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”
However, in a dramatic twist just hours later, Akolu was forced to retract his statement after the APC national leadership allegedly issued fresh directives.
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