The build-up to the 2027 general elections took a dramatic turn on Monday as the ruling All Progressives Congress was thrown into turbulence following a wave of political upsets, consensus arrangements, disputed victories, and controversial disqualifications during its senatorial primaries across the country.
The exercise produced some of the biggest political shocks in recent APC history, with several powerful politicians losing out, others withdrawing under controversial circumstances, while incumbent senators and influential governors tightened their grip on party structures ahead of the 2027 polls.
Among the biggest outcomes was the victory of Hope Uzodimma over former Imo governor Rochas Okorocha in the Imo West senatorial primary. Uzodimma polled 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.
In Delta State, former governor Ifeanyi Okowa defeated incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in Delta North, while Senator Ede Dafinone trounced former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta Central.
Dafinone secured 116,252 votes against Omo-Agege’s 3,643 votes, although the former deputy senate president rejected the result and declared himself winner, insisting he had won “decisively” across the district’s 85 wards.
Former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello also staged a strong political comeback after winning the APC senatorial ticket for Kogi Central with 72,399 votes.
Several top APC figures emerged through consensus or affirmation arrangements brokered by party leaders and governors seeking to avoid divisive contests.
Among them were Senate President Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom North West, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele in Ekiti Central, Senator Ali Ndume in Borno South, and former Edo governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Akpabio emerged unopposed during a carnival-like affirmation exercise in Essien Udim Local Government Area, where party members hailed him as a “tested leader.”
In Borno State, all three incumbent APC senators — Ndume, Mohammed Monguno, and Kaka Shehu Lawan — were returned unopposed after affirmation exercises in Maiduguri. Ndume praised his challenger, Abdullahi Askira, for stepping down “in the interest of party unity.”
Consensus politics also dominated in Yobe, Kebbi, Lagos, and parts of Ogun and Ebonyi states.
In Lagos State, Senators Tokunbo Abiru, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, and Idiat Adebule all secured return tickets through internal agreements endorsed by party leaders.
However, confusion and controversy trailed the exercise in several states.
In Edo South, rival factions announced different winners after the primary. While the APC collation committee declared Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama winner, another faction announced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as victor.
Senator Neda Imasuen rejected the process entirely, describing it as manipulated.
“There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of an election,” he said.
Ogun State also witnessed drama as former governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun stayed away from the exercise despite earlier indications they would participate.
Daniel’s media aide said the former governor withdrew to avoid violence, while Amosun’s camp reportedly protested being excluded from a consensus arrangement that favoured Senator Shuaib Salisu.
Governor Dapo Abiodun nevertheless described the process as peaceful and democratic.
The APC primaries in Rivers State also generated tension after Senator Ipalibo Banigo-Harry protested her disqualification from the contest.
Banigo-Harry, a former deputy governor and serving senator, described her exclusion as “an injustice to women and experienced legislators.”
“I am a serving senator. I deserve to be cleared,” she said while appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC leaders.
Before the primaries, the APC screening committee had disqualified 44 aspirants nationwide, triggering widespread protests and allegations of manipulation.
The list, released by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, initially contained 47 names before it was revised downward to 44 without explanation.
Among those initially affected was former senator Ben Murray-Bruce, whose name later disappeared from the updated list without clarification from the party.
Several prominent aspirants from Rivers, Oyo, Plateau, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Nasarawa states were also denied clearance, deepening internal grievances within the party.
In Kwara State, what was expected to be a smooth consensus arrangement for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq suddenly spiralled into confusion after reports emerged that Senator Saliu Mustapha had also secured clearance to contest for the Kwara Central ticket.
The development reportedly stunned party stakeholders after an earlier statement from the governor’s camp claimed AbdulRazaq was the sole cleared aspirant.
Despite the disputes and protests in some states, the APC leadership maintained that the primaries were largely peaceful and orderly, insisting the process complied with party guidelines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
