APC SENATE PRIMARIES: Rochas, Omo-Agege, Nwoko smashed as Akpabio, 4 governors secure tickets
The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries commenced across the country amidst intense political maneuvering, producing shocking upsets for veteran politicians and sweeping victories for high-ranking lawmakers and sitting governors.
While heavyweights like former Governor Rochas Okorocha, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, and Senator Ned Nwoko suffered crushing defeats, the camps of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and several state executives are in high spirits following decisive victories.
The Big Winners: Presiding officers and governors dominate
The primaries solidified the political grip of several serving governors and principal officers of the National Assembly. Winning their respective tickets through combinations of direct primaries and consensus arrangements were Senator Godswill Akpabio (Senate President) who secured the Akwa Ibom North West ticket with a landslide victory of 121,425 votes.
Senator Barau I. Jibrin (Deputy Senate President) was unanimously affirmed as the candidate for Kano North during a massive gathering at the party’s headquarters in Bichi LGA, witnessed by INEC and national APC officials.
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Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Senate Leader) was affirmed by party faithful to return for another term representing Ekiti Central.
Among sitting governors, Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) all successfully clinched senatorial tickets.
In Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya stood as the sole consensus candidate for Gombe North, a seat currently occupied by PDP’s Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo. Meanwhile, in Edo North, Senator Adams Oshiomhole secured his return ticket unopposed after polling 24,284 votes.
Giants Fall: Uzodinma crushes Okorocha; Okowa defeats Nwoko
The most dramatic showdowns occurred in Imo and Delta states, where long-standing political rivalries were put to the test.
Imo State
Governor Hope Uzodinma delivered a decisive blow to former Governor Rochas Okorocha in the race for the Imo West Senatorial District ticket. The chairman of the Electoral Committee, retired Rear Adm. Williams Kayode, declared Uzodinma the winner after he polled a staggering 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s meager 1,098 votes.
Delta State
In Delta North, immediate past governor Ifeanyi Okowa secured a landslide victory, polling 4,462 votes to easily displace the serving senator, Ned Nwoko, who managed to secure only three votes at Ward 9, Okpanam.
Similarly, in Delta Central, incumbent Senator Ede Dafinone handed a heavy defeat to former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, polling 116,252 votes against Omo-Agege’s 3,643.
Regional breakdown: Consensus and clear wins
Kaduna State
Former governor, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero won the Kaduna North ticket convincingly, scoring 6,060 votes to defeat Muhammad Mu’azu Mukaddas (1,044) and Yusuf Bala Ikara (372). In Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani emerged victorious with 9,105 votes, while Senator Sunday Marshall Katung clinched the Kaduna South ticket.
Borno & Kebbi States (Consensus Waves)
Incumbent Borno Senators—Ali Ndume (Borno South), Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central)—were returned unopposed.
In Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris successfully brokered peace, leading to the emergence of Senators Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), and Jafar Muhammad Gajere (Kebbi South) as consensus candidates after several rivals stepped down.
Ogun State
Governor Dapo Abiodun secured the Ogun East ticket with 810 votes out of 812 accredited delegates, debunking claims of planned violence made by his rival, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who withdrew on the eve of the election. In Ogun West, former Reps member Jimoh Ojugbele was affirmed after Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele’s name was missing from the cleared list. Shuaib Afolabi Salisu retained his ticket for Ogun Central.
Abia State
Incumbent Senator Orji Uzor Kalu secured a massive victory for the Abia North ticket, pooling 65,651 votes to defeat his sole challenger, Philip Nto, who got 2,103 votes.
Disqualification Chaos: Jack-Rich, Banigo out; 43 aspirants dropped
Ahead of the polls, the APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, released a list of 43 disqualified aspirants. Notable casualties included billionaire oil mogul and former presidential aspirant Jack-Rich Tein T.S. (Rivers West) and former Rivers deputy governor, Senator Ipalibo Banigo.
Disqualification by State:
Zamfara: 7 aspirants
Oyo: 6 aspirants
Rivers: 5 aspirants
Kwara: 4 aspirants
Adamawa, Bayelsa, Plateau, Niger: 3 aspirants each
Insiders attribute the disqualifications to document inconsistencies and violations of local zoning arrangements. Disqualified aspirants, including Barrister Gyang Zi (Plateau North) and Senator Banigo, have protested the move, calling on the party leadership to review the decisions in the interest of justice and equity.
Kwara drama: Abdulrazaq and Mustapha clash
In Kwara State, the simmering cold war between Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha burst into the open. Confusion erupted when an online list cleared both men for the Kwara Central ticket, despite Mustapha’s known governorship ambitions for 2027.
Reports from several wards indicate that party members engaged in a direct, tense voting contest between the two leaders, threatening internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Elections in several other centers across the country remained uncalculated at the time of filing this report due to logistical delays and disagreements over voting methods.
