The senatorial primaries of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), held across the country on Monday, produced a dramatic mix of major victories, shocking defeats, consensus arrangements, protests and mass disqualifications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the biggest winners were former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello and former Edo governor Adams Oshiomhole, all of whom secured senatorial tickets.
On the losing side were Delta North Senator Ned Nwoko, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, former Rivers deputy governor Ipalibo Banigo and several other aspirants disqualified from the race.
The primaries also saw the emergence of many serving senators and political heavyweights, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, former Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu and former Senate Leader Ali Ndume, who all clinched return tickets either by consensus or outright victories.
The party also barred no fewer than 44 senatorial aspirants from contesting the primaries. High-profile figures affected included Rivers politician Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Banigo and former Rivers Head of Service Tammy Danagogo.
However, former Bayelsa East senator Ben Murray-Bruce was later reinstated after his name was initially listed among disqualified aspirants.
Delta delivers biggest upset
One of the most talked-about outcomes came from Delta State, where Okowa defeated incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in the Delta North primary by a landslide.
Okowa polled 113,309 votes, while Nwoko secured 2,612 votes. Mariam Ali managed just 40 votes.
In Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone defeated Omo-Agege with 116,252 votes against 3,643 votes, although Omo-Agege rejected the result and insisted he won the exercise.
Yahaya Bello dominates Kogi Central
In Kogi Central, Yahaya Bello recorded a sweeping victory with 72,399 votes across the district’s five local government areas.
But controversy erupted in Kogi East after Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the outcome of the primary, accusing allies of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of hijacking election materials and frustrating his supporters.
Isah vowed to challenge Ododo politically, declaring that “the battle line has been drawn.”
Oshiomhole, Barau, Kalu cruise through
In Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Joe Ikpea emerged unopposed.
In Edo South, however, confusion trailed the exercise after Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama was announced winner with 27,154 votes ahead of Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Parallel results later surfaced declaring Ize-Iyamu winner, deepening controversy around the process.
In Kano North, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin secured the APC ticket unopposed during an affirmation exercise attended by thousands of party supporters.
Meanwhile, Orji Uzor Kalu secured a landslide victory in Abia North, polling 65,651 votes against 2,103 votes scored by Philip Nto.
Abiodun triumphs as Daniel’s camp withdraws
In Ogun East, Governor Dapo Abiodun emerged victorious after supporters of incumbent Senator Gbenga Daniel withdrew from the contest over alleged security threats.
In Kwara Central, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha were locked in a fierce contest, with reports indicating strong grassroots mobilisation by both camps.
Consensus sweeps northern states
Several northern states adopted consensus arrangements that returned serving lawmakers unopposed.
In Sokoto, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Senator Ibrahim Danbaba and Senator Umaru Ajiya all secured return tickets through affirmation.
Zamfara also adopted consensus, with Senators Abdulaziz Yari, Sahabi Ya’u Kaura and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis all returned as candidates.
In Niger State, former governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Senator Sani Musa retained their tickets through consensus.
Kebbi State equally affirmed Senator Adamu Aliero as sole candidate for Kebbi Central, setting him up for a fourth Senate term.
Rivers disqualifications spark outrage
Rivers State recorded some of the highest-profile disqualifications. Banigo strongly condemned her exclusion, arguing that the decision undermined calls for greater female representation in politics.
She noted that only four women currently serve in the 10th Senate and appealed to the APC leadership to demonstrate fairness and gender sensitivity.
Several aspirants from Rivers West, particularly from the Kalabari axis, were disqualified, raising fresh concerns over internal party politics in the state.
APC insists primaries were peaceful
Despite protests and allegations of manipulation in some states, APC leaders described the primaries as peaceful, transparent and evidence of growing internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the screening and primary processes followed established procedures and party guidelines.