Follow Us on Google
From Fred Itua, Abuja, Kenneth Udeh, Umuahia and Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
the All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded senatorial primaries across several states, producing a mix of consensus affirmations, competitive outcomes and pockets of controversy that together paint a picture of a party simultaneously consolidating its structures and managing internal tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the prominent names to have secured tickets were former Senate Leader Ali Ndume for Borno South, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele for Ekiti Central, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu for Abia North, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for Kogi Central, incumbent Senator Sunday Karimi for Kogi West, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for Adamawa North, Senator Shehu Kaka for Borno Central, Nasiru Yahaya for Katsina North, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for Edo North, Joe Ikpea for Edo Central, Philip Aduda for the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat and three-time House of Representatives member Jimoh Ojugbele, who represented Ota Federal Constituency for Ogun West Senatorial District.
In Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, the incumbent Senator clinched the ticket with a commanding margin over his lone challenger, Philip Nto.
The direct primary election, conducted yesterday across the five local government areas and 57 wards of Abia North, recorded massive participation by party members and ended in a sweeping victory for the former Senate Chief Whip, who polled 65,651 votes to defeat Nto, who secured 2,103 votes.
The result showed a staggering victory margin of 63,548 votes in favour of Kalu.
Details of the results announced by the party’s returning officer assigned to the senatorial district by the APC Primary Election Committee showed that the exercise covered all 57 wards across the district.
The primary election was supervised by designated returning officers who presented their results from across the various local government areas, including Chisom Eneogwe Christopher for Isuikwuato LGA, Chima Okorie for Ohafia LGA, Tony Mezie Nwubani for Bende LGA, Enyioma Ekebuike for Umunneochi LGA, while Wilson Chukwuma Eze served at the Arochukwu collation centre.
Announcing the results yesterday in Umuahia, Chairman of the Abia North Senatorial National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Mr. Chinedu Christian Kanu, confirmed that the exercise was successfully conducted across the district in a peaceful, transparent, and credible manner.
He noted that APC members turned out massively to participate in the direct primary process aimed at electing candidates that would fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general elections.
According to him, Senator Kalu secured a landslide victory after polling the overwhelming majority of valid votes cast during the exercise.
Kanu commended party members, stakeholders and electoral officials for maintaining order and ensuring a smooth conduct of the primaries, stressing that the committee upheld fairness, transparency and credibility throughout the process.
Kalu’s victory now clears the path for his re-election bid ahead of the February 2027 National Assembly elections. Since his election into the Senate in 2019, he has remained one of the most prominent lawmakers from the South East, with his legislative and constituency interventions largely centred on infrastructure development, education, industrialisation, youth empowerment and regional economic growth.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatization and Chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), the former Abia State Governor has also played strategic roles in attracting federal projects and investments to the South-East region.
Across Abia North, he has facilitated the construction and rehabilitation of more than 160 rural roads linking communities in Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi and Bende Local Government Areas.
The road projects have reportedly improved transportation, expanded access to rural markets and reduced post-harvest losses for farmers in agrarian communities.
In the area of rural electrification and security, solar-powered street lights have been installed in over 150 communities across the district, boosting commercial activities and improving security in the affected areas. He has also championed industrial and economic initiatives within the zone, including the establishment of cashew processing and tricycle assembly plants in Igbere, creating employment opportunities for youths and local residents.
His office also facilitated investments in renewable energy, agriculture and manufacturing sectors aimed at stimulating economic activities across the region.
Under his leadership at the South East Development Commission, the commission secured a N140 billion budgetary allocation targeted at critical infrastructure, healthcare and education projects across the South-East geopolitical zone.
Education has also remained a major pillar of his constituency interventions, with the senator facilitating the construction and renovation of schools, classroom blocks, libraries and science laboratories across Abia North.
Thousands of students have equally benefited from scholarships, bursaries, educational materials and sponsorship programmes facilitated through initiatives linked to his foundation.
Other News
On empowerment, the senator has distributed grants, tricycles, motorcycles, sewing machines, generators, laptops and agricultural inputs to women, youths, artisans and farmers across the district as part of efforts aimed at promoting self-reliance and reducing unemployment.
Senator Ede Dafinone emerged winner in Delta Central Senatorial District.
He polled 116,252 across the eight local government councils that made up the district while his main rival, former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, secured 3,643 votes.
The result was announced by the retuning officer for the election, Nusa Amagbor, Eqs.
Senator Dafinone commended the process and thanked the people of Delta Central for the confidence reposed in him again.
“What is my comment and assessment of the election, and what is my overall take? First of all, let me say that the process of the primaries was conducted in a manner that was transparent, open, free, and fair. Delta Central is, of course, a highly political terrain, and I want to use this opportunity to thank all those who supported me throughout our great party in achieving this victory today.
“I will also take this opportunity to call on Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to join forces with other members of our party so that we can work together for victory in 2027 across all positions,” he said.
Former governor, Yahaya Bello, won Kogi Central ticket in a decisive victory.
The direct primary election was conducted across the five local government areas that make up Kogi Central senatorial district.
The Returning Officer, Dr Sadiq Mohammed, announced the results at the collation centre in Okene, describing the exercise as orderly and credible.
Bello polled 72,399 votes to defeat Ibrahim Adoke, who scored 319 votes and Momoh Yusuf Obaro with 188 votes.
In Adavi Local Government Area, Bello secured 18,341 votes, while he scored 10,298 votes in Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
He also garnered 5,146 votes in Ogori Local Government Area, consolidating his wide margin in the contest.
Further results showed Bello polled 8,943 votes in Okehi and 29,621 votes in Okene, his strongest base.
The returning officer said the total of 72,399 votes confirmed a clear and decisive mandate for Bello across the district.
He noted that the process reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy and peaceful conduct during the primary election.
The outcome positions Bello as the All Progressives Congress flagbearer for the Kogi Central senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
Controversy surrounds the senatorial exercises in Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North-West, where the inclusion of Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former minister Godswill Akpabio respectively continues to generate headlines and fuel debate within party ranks.
Meanwhile, Ekiti South and Ekiti North are headed for competitive primaries, with Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu, former Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi and Bamidele Faparusi cleared for Ekiti South, and Cyril Fasuyi, Ayo Arise, Oladipupo Bamisaye and Oluwadare Owolabi set to contest Ekiti North.
As the party works to conclude its exercises nationwide, its ability to resolve disputed outcomes and manage internal rivalries will remain a critical test of its cohesion ahead of 2027.
The day’s results revealed a ruling party that is simultaneously capable of engineering smooth consensus arrangements where elite interests converge and vulnerable to damaging fractures where they do not. How the APC navigates both realities in the weeks ahead will go a long way in determining the strength and unity it is able to project into the general election season.
