APC SENATE PRIMARIES: OKOWA, ABIODUN, UZODIMMA EMERGE WINNERS AS NED NWOKO, GOJE, OTHERS LOSE OUT
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
LAGOS — The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries held across the country on Tuesday produced a mix of 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 exercise, including Rivers politician Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, and former Rivers Head of Service, Tammy Danagogo.
However, the APC later reinstated former Bayelsa East senator Ben Murray-Bruce after he was initially listed among those disqualified for the primaries.
A revised list released by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka showed Rivers State recorded one of the highest numbers of disqualifications, while Zamfara State had the largest bloc of barred aspirants.
The exercise also saw several serving senators and top political figures secure return tickets through consensus or outright victories. Among them were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Opeyemi Bamidele, Orji Uzor Kalu, Adams Oshiomhole, Ede Dafinone, and Ali Ndume.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma (Imo West) and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan (Yobe) also secured tickets.
In Kogi Central, former Governor Yahaya Bello recorded a landslide victory, polling 72,399 votes to defeat his challengers across the district.
However, Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the outcome of the Kogi East primary after losing his return ticket, accusing Governor Ahmed Ododo’s camp of hijacking materials and frustrating his supporters. He vowed to challenge the situation, insisting that “the battle line has been drawn.”
In Delta State, Senator Ede Dafinone defeated former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta Central, while former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa defeated incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in Delta North.
Elsewhere, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau emerged unopposed in Kano North, while former Senate Leader Ali Ndume clinched the Borno South ticket through 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.
In Ekiti Central, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele secured his ticket unopposed for a third-term bid.
In Edo South, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama defeated Senator Neda Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, though parallel results later emerged, deepening controversy.
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun emerged winner in Ogun East after supporters of his main challenger, Senator Gbenga Daniel, withdrew over alleged security concerns.
In Kwara Central, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha engaged in a tightly contested race with strong party backing split between both camps.
Across Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara, APC largely adopted consensus arrangements, giving serving senators including Aliyu Wamakko, Abdulaziz Yari, Sani Musa, and Adamu Aliero 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 and reflective of growing internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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