… Wike’s allies dominate Rivers, Buhari’s son win
By Teddy Nwanunobi and Yakubu Ventim (Jos)
The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday concluded its national Assembly election primaries in several states of the federation, ahead of the 2027 general elections, with mixed feelings among party members.
The primaries, which were conducted on Saturday for the House of Representatives, and on Monday for the Senate did not end without surprises as some big names lost against popular expectations.
But it was an easy win for serving state governors who have already completed their second term.
In the Senate, APC barred no fewer than 44 senatorial aspirants from participating in the primaries, including: Rivers politician, Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, and former Rivers state Head of Service, Tammy Danagogo.
However, the party reinstated former Bayelsa East senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, after initially listing him among aspirants not cleared for the exercise.
The updated list released by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, showed that Rivers recorded one of the highest numbers of disqualifications, while Zamfara State produced the largest bloc of barred aspirants.
Some prominent members of the 10th Senate, including: the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Jubrin Barau; Opeyemi Bamidele, Orji Uzor Kalu, Adams Oshiomhole, Ede Dafinone, and Ali Ndume, among others, secured return tickets via consensus or victory. There were also winners, like the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma (Imo West), Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun; and former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Yobe).
In Kogi Central, former Governor Yahaya Bello defeated his challengers across the five local government areas of the district.
But in Kogi East, Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the outcome of the primary after losing his return ticket, accusing Governor Ahmed Ododo’s camp of hijacking materials, and frustrating his supporters.
“The battle line has been drawn,” he declared, vowing to challenge Ododo in the governorship race.
In Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone defeated a former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, while former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa trounced incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko, in Delta North.
APC heavyweights also secured tickets in other states. Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, emerged Kano North candidate unopposed, while former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, clinched Borno South ticket by consensus. However, former Gombe state governor Danjuma Goje lost in the state.
In Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu secured a landslide victory while Chief Erondu Uchenna Erondu emerged the candidate for Abia South.
Similarly, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, secured the Ekiti Central ticket unopposed ahead of a third-term bid.
In Edo South, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama defeated Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, though parallel results later emerged declaring Ize-Iyamu winner, deepening controversy around the exercise.
In Ogun East, Governor Dapo Abiodun prevailed after supporters of his main challenger and incumbent, Senator Gbenga Daniel, withdrew over alleged insecurity threat.
In Kwara Central, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and incumbent Senator Saliu Mustapha engaged in a fierce two-horse race, with party stakeholders openly backing the governor.
There were consensus arrangements in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara states, where serving senators, including Aliyu Wamakko, Abdulaziz Yari, Sani Musa, and Adamu Aliero secured return tickets.
In Cross River State, the three serving senators — Asuquo Ekpenyong, Eteng Williams and Jarigbe Agom — all secured return tickets through affirmation.
Despite complaints in some states, APC leaders described the primaries as largely peaceful, transparent and reflective of the party’s growing internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The House of Representatives’ exercise produced a mix of consensus candidates, high-profile victories, and controversies ranging from violence to allegations of candidate imposition and unlawful detention.
The primaries, originally scheduled for Friday, were shifted to Saturday.
Incumbent lawmaker, Steve Olusola Fatoba, won the Ekiti Central I ticket, Oladapo Karounwi defeated incumbent Abiodun Omoleye in Ekiti Central II, while Okoro Toyin Zaccheaus scored 9,798 votes to defeated incumbent Rufus Adeni Ojuawo, in Ekiti South I.
Incumbent Richard Bamisile retained the Ekiti South II ticket, while Ibrahim Olanrewaju defeated incumbent Kolawole Akinlayo in Ekiti North II.
In Rivers State, several politicians, who aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, secured their tickets.
They include: Martins Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who clinched the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency ticket; the incumbent lawmaker, Dumnamene Dekor, defeated Israel Ngbuelo to retain the Gokana/Khana ticket.
Other successful candidates include: Solomon Bob, Frederick Apiafi, Igwe Precious, Blessing Amadi, Cyril Hart, Isobo Jack, Felix Nwaeke, Victor Obuzor, Chibuzor Nwamaka, Nyebuchi Joy, and Linda Stewart.
In Plateau State, a major political upset emerged as incumbent lawmaker, Yusuf Gagdi, failed to secure the party’s ticket for another term.
Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was defeated by John Tonshinen in the closely contested primary election.
Ebonyi State witnessed a peaceful primary to produce Chinedu Ogah (Ikwo/Ezza South), Iduma Igariwey (Afikpo/Edda), and Nkemkanma Kama (Ohanivo Federal Constituency).
In Katsina State, a former aspirant for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency, Ahmed Saleh, alleged that security operatives detained him for more than 24 hours to prevent him from participating in the primary election.
Saleh, who claimed the detention was carried out on the directive of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, was defeated by the governor’s Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development, Jamila Mani.
In Katsina, Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the Daura Federal Constituency ticket.
In Kaduna State, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas secured the Zaria Federal Constituency ticket unopposed. A former lawmaker, Samaila Suleiman, won the Kaduna North ticket, while several other candidates emerged across the state.
In Kebbi State, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Jafar Ahmed Jega, defeated incumbent lawmaker, Mansur Musa Jega, to secure the Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro ticket. A former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, also emerged as the APC candidate for the Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency.
Daily NewsCraft reports that the primaries are part of the APC’s broader strategy to select candidates for the 2027 general elections, with Senate primaries and other nomination exercises continuing in the coming days. Other results are still been awaited