APC Senate primaries: Okowa, Abiodun, Uzodimma win; Ned Nwoko, Goje, others lose

—Barau, Bello, Oshiomhole, Kalu, others clinch return tickets

—Jack-Rich, Banigo, Danagogo, 41 others disqualified

By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Demola Akinyemi, Wole Mosadomi, John Alechenu, Peter Duru, Omeiza Ajayi, Ozioruva Aliu, Boluwaji Obahopo, Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Ibrahim Hassan, Emma Una, Haruna Aliyu, Daniel Abia, Uko Etim, Idris Salisu, Musa Ubandawaki, Ndahi Marama, Adeda Badru & James Ogunnaike

LAGOS — The All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial primaries across the country, yesterday, produced high-profile winners and losers, amid disqualifications, protests, consensus arrangements and allegations of manipulation.

The party barred no fewer than 44 senatorial aspirants from participating in the primaries, including Rivers politician, Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Ipalibo Banigo and former Rivers Head of Service, Tammy Danagogo.

However, the APC 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.

It was a day leading lights of the 10th Senate, such as 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. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma (Imo West) and former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Yobe) also won.

In Kogi Central, former Governor Yahaya Bello secured a landslide victory, polling 72,399 votes to defeat 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, Senator Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, in Delta Central, 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.

In Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu secured a landslide victory with 65,651 votes, while Chief Erondu Uchenna Erondu emerged APC 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 State, Governor Dapo Abiodun prevailed in Ogun East 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.

At several wards in Ilorin East and Ilorin West, supporters trooped out in large numbers for AbdulRazaq, while some wards reportedly returned zero votes for Mustapha.

Elsewhere, APC adopted consensus arrangements in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara, where serving senators, including Aliyu Wamakko, Abdulaziz Yari, Sani Musa and Adamu Aliero, secured return tickets.

In Cross River, 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.

APC bars Jack-Rich, 43 others; reinstates Murray-Bruce

Updating its earlier list of 47 axed aspirants, the APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, saying the screening was conducted by the party’s screening committees in accordance with established procedures and guidelines.

The party deleted the names of former Bayelsa East Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, Anambra North aspirant Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue from the “not cleared” list.

Dropped from the official document are Murray-Bruce, who had been listed for Bayelsa East; Nnalue, listed for Anambra North; and Gyang Yaya Zi San (Plateau North).

Rivers State recorded the highest number of disqualifications, with five aspirants from the West Senatorial District alone failing to make the cut — among them Tein Jack-Rich, Dr. Tamunobaabo Wenike Danagogo, Oyukaye Amachree and Banigo Ipalibo — while Chief Barry Balera Mwara was disqualified from the South/East Senatorial District.

Zamfara State returned the single largest bloc of disqualifications, with seven aspirants knocked out across the Central, North and West senatorial districts.

Bayelsa State accounts for two confirmed disqualifications on the official document — Senator Benson Agadaga from the East Senatorial District, who is listed as a voluntary withdrawal, and Donald Daunemigita from the West, also listed as a voluntary withdrawal — with Murray-Bruce’s status now unclear following his omission from the updated list.

Ipalibo Harry slams APC screening committee, rejects disqualification

Former deputy governor of Rivers state and serving senator, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has slammed the APC screening committee for disqualifying her from seeking a re-election to represent Rivers West.

Ipalibo decried that at a time when advocacy for more women in elective positions was becoming intense, experienced women in the 10th senate should be given a level playing ground to represent their people in the national politics.

She urged the national leadership of the party to show fairness, equity and be gender sensitive, appealing that “we have only four women in the 10th senate. This is a time we are seeking to have more women in higher political positions.”

Meanwhile, Wike’s henchmen, Prince Felix Obua, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Barry Mwara and Osarosaka Ebenezer of Rivers West and South respectively are expected to have easy clearance to contest on the platform of the party.

Sadly, all senatorial aspirants from Rivers west, particularly of the Kalabari riverine dichotomy were inexplicably disqualified.

All senators in Cross River get return tickets

The three senators in Cross River State, Asuquo Ekpenyong of Cross River South, Eteng William of Central District, and Jarigbe Agom of Northern District, all had their return tickets through affirmation.

Earlier in the day, a memo was circulated via social media stating that other aspirants for the South and Central districts had been disqualified.

Oden Ewa, the Cross River State Commissioner for Special Duties, contested in the central district against Eteng William, while Daniel Asuquo contested against Asuquo Ekpenyong in the South. However, the two were said to have been disqualified, paving the way for Asuquo Ekpenyong and Eteng William.

In the North, following the withdrawal of Senator Ben Ayade, former governor of the state, from the race after President BolaTinubu’s intervention, there was no strong contender. All of those said to be contesting stepped down for Senator Jarigbe Agom.

Ikpeazu’s ex aide emerges APC senatorial candidate for Abia South

In Abia, a former aide to ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chief Erondu Uchenna Erondu, won the Abia Central.

Erondu, who is the lawmaker representing Obingwa West State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, polled 16,640, to defeat the former South-East zonal chairman of the party, Dr. Nyerere Anyim; Prince Paul Ikonne and Mrs Blessing Nwagba, in the six council areas of the zone.

Kalu Secures landslide victory in Abia North

Chairman, Senate Committee on South East Development Commission, SEDC, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu won the Abia North with a wide gap over his lone challenger, Philip Nto.

In a statement from his Media Office on Monday, the direct primary election, conducted across the five local government areas and 57 wards of Abia North Senatorial District, Kalu polled 65,651 votes to defeat Philip Nto, who secured 2,103 votes.

Dafinone, Okowa win in Central, North, Joel-Onowakpo leads in South

In Delta, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, defeated former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, by a landslide.

However, Omo-Agege countered, saying that he worn.

Also, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa won in Delta North, beating incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko. Okowa polled 113,309 votes to defeat Ned Nwoko, who scored 2,612 votes, while Mariam Ali secured 40 votes.

The primaries were conducted using the direct primary system under Option A4. Announcing the results, Secretary of the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, Barr. Nusa Amagbor, said Senator Dafinone polled 116,252 votes to defeat Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who secured 3,643 votes.

Announcing the results from Delta North, the returning officer, Mr Eugene Odo, said having satisfied all the requirements of the party and having secured the highest number of valid votes cast in the primary, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa “is hereby declared the winner of the Delta North Senatorial District primary election.”

Meanwhile, in Delta South Senatorial District, incumbent Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas was leading in six of the eight local government areas in the senatorial district at press time.

In his reaction after he was declared winner amidst jubilation, Senator Ede Dafinone commended the process and thanked the people of Delta Central for the confidence reposed in him again.

Bayelsa adopts consensus

In Bayelsa, the party largely adopted the consensus option in the electoral wards across the state except in Bayelsa East where members opted for direct primary.

A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as commending party members for their peaceful conduct and the seamless primaries, noting that there had not been any ugly incident since the exercise began on Saturday with the House of Reps primaries.

He attributed the development largely to the consensus option adopted by the state APC and his administration’s prioritising peace and development over politics.

Ex-PRODA chairman withdraws from Benue South primary, alleges “pre-written” results

Former chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute, PRODA, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, withdrew from the Benue South Senatorial primary election, citing alleged irregularities and lack of transparency in the process for his decision.

In a letter dated March 16, 2026 and addressed to the National Chairman of the APC through the Benue State Chairman of the party and a trending video, Onjeh alleged that the primary process in Benue state, particularly in Benue South Senatorial District, had been compromised by what he described as anti-democratic forces operating within the party.

Zamfara: Consensus all the way

In Zamfara State all the incumbent National Assembly members, House of Representatives and Senate were affirmed and returned through consensus as APC candidates for the 2027 polls.

Incumbent members of the House of Representatives affirmed and returned are:

Kabiru Amadu Mai Palace, Representing Gusau/Tsafe; Abdulmalik Zubairu, Maru/Bungudu; Aminu Sani Jaji, Representing Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji; Bello Hassan Shinkafi, Representing Shinkafi/Zurmi; Abba Ahmed Rufa’i, Representing Bakura/Maradun; Isah Mamman, Representing Anka/Talata Mafara; and Sulaiman Abubakar Gummi, Representing Gummi/Bukkuyum.

Those chosen for Senate are: Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, Zamfara West; Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, Zamfara North; and Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Zamfara Central.

Senator Barau emerges in Kano North

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, emerged as the candidate of the APC for Kano North Senatorial District.The affirmation exercise took place at the APC headquarters in Bichi Local Government Area, amid thousands of party members drawn from the 13 local government areas that make up Kano North

Oshiomhole, Ikpea win Edo North unopposed

A former governor and incumbent Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, along with his counterpart Senator Joe Ikpea, sailed through the APC primary in Edo unopposed, and securing their tickets without a single vote cast against them.

Also Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the winner in the APC primary for the Edo South senatorial district.

Ogbeide-Ihama won in the seven local government areas of Edo South in the results announced by the Chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Election, Muhammed Ajana at the Urokpota Hall, Benin.

He polled 27,154 votes while his opponents, Senator Neda Imasuen, got 13,580, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got 6,785.

The elections were hitch-free in Edo North and Edo Central, where there was no contest against the incumbents, Senators Oshiomhole of Edo North and Ikpea of Edo Central, respectively.

Ajana at the Urokpota Hall said collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards where elections were conducted by members of the committee.

He said, “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District. We have heard from the returning officers from the seven local government areas. From the collation, the cumulative result we have for Edo South Senatorial District is this; Ogbeide-Ihama with 27,154 votes, Imasuen with 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 6, 785.

“This is the total reflection of what has transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this we await further directives from the National Secretariat, we have done our best by collating the results which is our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”

However, it was gathered that Ize-Iyamu emerged as the APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial race. He claimed to have clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Ogbeide-Ihama and Imasuen.

It was claimed that the Chief Returning Officer, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, officially declared Ize-Iyamu the winner after securing the highest number of votes cast.

On his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise, describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.

Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.

The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.

He said, “There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this.”

He said the warning signs emerged days before the primary when some ward chairmen allegedly informed him that they had been directed not to receive him during consultations.

Imasuen claimed that some ward leaders openly told him the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant, identified as Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, making further consultations unnecessary.

Katung defeats Laah, Auta in Zangon Kataf

In Kaduna, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung recorded a landslide victory over former Senator Danjuma Laah and fellow aspirant Michael Ayuba Auta in Kaduna South Senatorial primaries held in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the State.

Katung polled 875 votes, Senator Danjuma Laah came second with 160 votes, while Michael Ayuba Auta scored 102 votes.

Sokoto APC unites behind Wamakko, Danbaba, others, clears NASS aspirants

In Sokoto, the APC handed all NASS members re-election tickets via consensus.

Those endorsed include Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for Sokoto North Senatorial District; Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba for Sokoto South Senatorial District, and Alhaji Umaru Ajiya for Sokoto East Senatorial District.

Similarly, consensus affirmation was conducted for aspirants contesting the House of Representatives seats in 10 federal constituencies across the state.

, while voting reportedly took place in the Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency.

Among those affirmed were Ahmad Kalambaina for Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency, Almustapha Ibrahim for Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency, Hassan Abubakar for Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency, and Nasiru Shehu Bodinga for Bodinga/Tureta/Dange-Shuni Federal Constituency.

Others endorsed by the party include Saidu Mohammed Bargaja, Abubakar Zayyana Gwadabawa, Sa’adu Abubakar Binji, Hon. Garba Musa Mai Tafsiri Yabo and Abba Shehu Tambuwal.

Speaking during the affirmation exercise held at state APC secretariat along Sultan Abubakar road Sokoto, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko described the development as a strong indication of public confidence in the APC at National and state level.

Senate leader clinches third-term ticket, Adaramodu exudes confidence

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, secured his re-election ticket for Ekiti Central unopposed.

Bamidele emerged sole aspirant during the APC senatorial primary held on Monday, describing the development as a demonstration of the confidence and acceptance he enjoys among the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, expressed confidence in his chances of emerging victorious in Ekiti South Senatorial district against Senator Biodun Olujimi and Hon Bamidele Faparusi.

Adaramodu insisted that his longstanding loyalty to progressive politics, grassroots relationship and support for students have continued to earn him widespread acceptance among constituents in Ekiti South.

Kebbi APC officially affirms Aliero Kebbi central candidate

In Kebbi State, the party affirmed serving Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero as sole candidate after aspirant Kabir Sani Giant withdrew from the race.

This means Aliero is set to contest for a fourth term in the Senate in 2027.

Ndume returns unopposed as APC senatorial candidate for Borno South

Former Senate Leader, Sen. Ali Ndume, emerged as consensus candidate for Borno South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ndume was affirmed unopposed during the party’s primary held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. His main rival, Abdullahi Askira, withdrew from the race last month.

Sani Bello, Sani Musa retain tickets in Niger

Immediate past governor of Niger State, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello and incumbent Senator Sani Musa emerged by consensus in Niger.

The party adopted consensus for the party’s Senatorial District primary elections for Niger East and Niger North, while the Niger South went for the direct primary to elect its candidate for the senatorial seat.

The APC State Publicity Secretary, Musa D. Sarkin-kaji who confirmed this said aspirants and other stakeholders from Niger North and East adopted consensus while all aspirants from the Niger South refused to step down.

For Niger East, Alhaji Bello Bawa Bwari had to step down at the last minute after much pressure for the incumbent, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa.

Kwara gov squares off against Mustapha

In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday, received massive support from leaders, stalwarts and members of the party in the Kwara Central senatorial district primaries held across four local government areas of the district.

Governor AbdulRazaq is slugging it out with the serving Senator of the district, Mallam Saliu Mustapha despite earlier reports that he is not in the Senate race.

Addressing members of the party in Ibagun Ward, in Ilorin East Local Government, the Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Saadu Salahu said leaders and party faithful are united to ensure the success of APC at all levels in 2027.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the primary election, a stalwart of the party and former member of House of Representatives Hon Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo said the contest between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha received impressive turnout of party loyalists in appreciation of the achievements of APC led government in the state and in the country.

Goje loses as Inuwa-backed candidate clinches ticket in Gombe

Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje lost the ticket of the APC to represent Gombe Central Senatorial District for the fifth term.

In the direct primary election conducted in Akko and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas, two LGAs that make up the district, DCP Mohammed Ahmed (retd) clinched the ticket.

Returning officer of the Election, Dr Habu Dahiru, declared that DCP Ahmed scored 42,785 votes against Senator Goje’s 10,425 votes.