The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved disputes over contentious governorship primaries in some states and uploaded details of its candidates in 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will hold in 2027.
The Nation reports that the party also submitted the names of the running mates of the 27 candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The only remaining state is in the North-East where stakeholders of the party are expected to meet in Abuja on Monday to take a decision on the choice of a deputy governorship candidate.
The delay, party sources said, was caused by the need to replace the serving deputy governor who has already served two terms in office.
The details of some of the governorship candidates that have been uploaded include those of Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa and Bauchi states where the APC primaries had generated protests and internal disagreements.
Speaker of state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, emerged as the governorship candidate in Kwara.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli was uploaded as the party’s candidate for Oyo State with Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate.
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Former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Ahmed Tijani Galadima is the APC governorship candidate in Adamawa while former governor Mohammed Abubakar is flying the party’s flag in Bauchi.
Kwara Aspirants Protest Danladi’s Selection
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s support for Danladi had led to opposition from some aspirants and party leaders to the Kwara governorship primary.
The leading aspirants seeking the ticket were Senator Salihu Mustapha, Kwara Central; Senator Oyelola Ashiru, Kwara South; and Senator Umar Sadiq Suleiman, Kwara North.
Some aspirants and some powerful members of the party in the three senatorial districts were said to have been infuriated by Danladi’s appearance.
But the APC leadership is said to have resolved the differences and proceeded with the submission of Danladi’s details to INEC.
Bauchi crisis followed Abubakar’s triumph
In Bauchi State, the governorship primary also revealed deep divisions within the APC after former governor Mohammed Abubakar emerged as the party’s candidate.
Several prominent politicians contested, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Bala Wunti, Nura Manu Soro and Senator Shehu Umar Buba.
Abubakar’s victory announcement triggered disagreements, some aspirants and their supporters rejected the outcome.
Buba later quit the APC to become the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Also, APC Deputy Chairman in Bauchi, Ibrahim Misau, defected with some local government and ward officials in Misau Local Government Area and declared support for Buba.
Abubakar’s name has been uploaded as the APC governorship candidate, notwithstanding the defections.
Stakeholders in Adamawa Join Hands
In Adamawa, it appears party members divided over the emergence of Galadima have reconciled.
Galadima was reportedly not the preferred candidate of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, but was said to have the backing of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Fintiri, who joined the APC months before the primary, was thought to have preferred another candidate but later accepted the result.
Since then, the governor has been seen with Galadima at political functions, indicating a reduction of tension within the state chapter.
Primary dispute settled at Oyo
Controversy also trailed the APC’s governorship primary in Oyo State as the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, kicked against the emergence of Senator Alli.
Adelabu had argued that the primary was flawed and told his supporters he would challenge the outcome through the party’s internal appeal process.
Even after Alli received his certificate of return and presented Adedeji as his running mate, Adelabu and some other aspirants continued to contest the outcome.
However, party sources told The Nation that the differences have been resolved paving the way for the submission of the details of Alli and Adedeji to INEC.
One State Outstanding.
A member of the APC vetting committee who spoke anonymously said the party had made significant progress in completing the nomination process.
“We have made giant strides in our efforts to upload details of all our governorship candidates and their deputies.
“But for one state, we would have finished and closed the process of governorship candidates,” the source said.
The official said the unresolved issue was the selection of a running mate in a North-East state.
“The delay was because of the deputy governorship candidate.
“The matter will be resolved at a critical meeting of stakeholders scheduled for Monday (today) here in Abuja,” the official added.
APC Presents 60% of Assembly Candidates
The party has also uploaded around 60 per cent of its candidates for the state Houses of Assembly elections.
House of Assembly elections will take place in all 36 states during the 2027 general elections.
Political parties have until August 8 to submit their governorship and state assembly candidates to INEC.
As of today, the APC has screened 12 politicians contesting for the governorship position for the first time.
They are: Obafemi Hamzat in Lagos, Solomon Adeola in Ogun, Kingsley Chinda in Rivers, Eric Opah in Abia, Mohammed Abubakar in Bauchi, Mustapha Gubio in Borno and Jamilu Gwamna in Gombe.
Others are Aliyu Wadada in Nasarawa and Baba Malam Wali in Yobe.
The names of the candidates downloaded are:
Obafemi Hamzat Lagos.
Solomon Adeola – Ogun
Kingsley Chinda — Rivers State
Eric Opah – Abia State
= Mohammed Abubakar — Bauchi
Mustapha Gubio – Borno State
Jamilu Gwamna – Gombe
Aliyu Wadada – Nasarawa
Baba Malam Wali – Yobe
Hyacinth Alia—Benue
Bassey Otu — Cross River State
Sheriff Oborevwori — Delta State
Francis Nwifuru – Ebonyi
Peter Mbah – Enugu
Umar Namadi, Jigawa
Abba Yusuf of Kano
Katsina – Dikko Radda
Umar Bago – Niger
Kebbi — Nasir Idris
Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau
Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom
Dauda Lawal — Zamfara State
Ahmed Aliyu – Sokoto