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By Ayo Kehinde
The ruling All Progressives Congress has concluded senatorial primary elections across the country, with several serving governors, former governors and key federal legislators emerging victorious ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The primaries, which took place on Monday, May 18, produced dramatic victories, political upsets and high-profile retirements as party members in several senatorial districts voted to determine who would fly the party’s flag in the National Assembly elections.
Major winners include serving governors whose terms are nearing completion, former governors seeking a political comeback and ranking senators who have secured return tickets without serious opposition.
For Imo West, Hope Uzodimma clinched the APC senatorial ticket in one of the most watched contests of the financial year. The governor, whose second term expires in January 2028, returned to the district he previously represented from 2011 to 2019 before becoming governor.
Uzodimma’s campaign for Senate has generated significant attention due to the weighty political figures associated with the Imo West senatorial district over the years, including former governor and former senator, Rochas Okorocha.
Reports indicated that the incumbent senator, Osita Izunaso, later withdrew from the race, paving the way for Uzodimma’s emergence.
In Ogun State, the outgoing governor, Dapo Abiodun, has emerged winner of the Ogun East Senatorial District primary elections after voting concluded in the nine local government areas of the district.
Abiodun’s victory came after former governor and sitting senator, Gbenga Daniel, withdrew from the contest hours before the exercise.
One of the biggest victories of the primaries came from Kogi Central, where the former governor, Yahaya Bello, secured a landslide victory.
Bello reportedly polled 72,399 votes across the five local government areas of the district to defeat his challengers emphatically, immediately positioning himself as one of the strongest APC senatorial candidates ahead of the general elections.
Other governors who have reportedly been successful include Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for Kwara Central, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya for Gombe North and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni for Yobe South.
For Delta North Senatorial District, the serving Senator, Ned Nwoko, has suffered a major political setback after losing the APC ticket to former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
The result marked a dramatic turnaround for Nwoko, who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party before seeking re-election under the APC.
Okowa, who recently aligned with the APC after years in the PDP, has leveraged his political structure and experience to claim relevance at the national level through the Senate route.
The APC primaries reflect the growing influence of outgoing governors and former state executives seeking a soft landing in the National Assembly as their terms as governors gradually wind down.
Political observers also noted that many serving senators avoided tough races after negotiations and withdrawals reduced tension in some districts.
In several states, the exercise exposed the APC’s internal power dynamics as old political alliances shifted and new blocs emerged ahead of the 2027 elections.
With primaries now over in most districts, attention has turned to possible legal disputes, reconciliation efforts and preparations for the general election, especially in areas where aggrieved aspirants could challenge the results.
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