Ahead of Thursday’s governorship primaries of the All_Progressives_Congress, resistance to consensus arrangements has intensified in at least 10 states, as several aspirants rejected pressure to step down and insisted on testing their popularity at the polls. The growing pushback comes despite efforts by party leaders and governors in many states to streamline the primaries through endorsements, negotiations, and consensus agreements aimed at avoiding divisive contests ahead of the 2027 general elections. Investigations showed that while incumbent governors in several APC-controlled states have successfully secured consensus backing for second-term tickets, succession battles in states such as Kwara, Gombe, Oyo, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Yobe remain fiercely contested.
The APC had fixed the cost of its governorship expression of interest form at N10m and nomination form at N40m. Findings indicated that the ruling party generated about N5.05bn from the sale of forms to 101 governorship aspirants nationwide. The party is scheduled to conduct governorship primaries in 28 states on Thursday, May 21, with direct primaries to be adopted in states where consensus arrangements fail. Appeals arising from the exercises are expected to be heard on May 24.
Despite growing internal resistance in some chapters, no fewer than 11 governors and sole aspirants have already secured overwhelming backing from party structures. Among those who emerged as consensus candidates are Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Ogbonna Nwifuru (Ebonyi). Party leaders in those states described the arrangements as strategic moves to preserve internal stability and avoid unnecessary factional crises.
In Sokoto, a party stalwart, Abubakar Umar, said, “We don’t have any other contestant apart from Governor Ahmed Aliyu. As was the case in the previous primaries, what remains is simply the ratification of his candidacy for another term.” Similarly, a Kebbi APC chieftain, Abdullahi Zuru, stated, “The party has agreed to present only the governor as its candidate. There is no opposition to his second-term ambition within the party.” In Jigawa, the state APC chairman, MK Garba, explained, “We don’t have any other contestant apart from Governor Umar Namadi. The process will simply ratify the consensus already reached by party leaders and members.” Speaking in a telephone interview, Garba added, “As was the case in the other primaries we held before now, we will only have to confirm the ratification of his candidacy for a second term.”
However, consensus efforts have suffered major setbacks in Kwara State, where 15 aspirants are preparing to confront Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred candidate, Amb Yahaya Seriki. The governor publicly endorsed Seriki as his preferred successor after what he described as extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, AbdulRazaq noted, “Following extensive consultations with party structures and leadership, I am pleased to endorse Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki as my preferred successor under the platform of our party, the APC.” He described Seriki as young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded, adding that the businessman and political mobiliser enjoyed profound investments and extensive goodwill among the people of Kwara State. The governor, however, stressed that his endorsement did not invalidate the ambitions of other aspirants, stating, “While this does not in any way preclude all other aspirants from contesting in the primaries, I urge members and leaders to affirm the choice of Seriki for cohesion, unity and continuous success of the party.”
The endorsement was followed immediately by a flurry of approvals from grassroots leaders, top politicians, aspirants, and transport unions in the state. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, who stepped down from the race, congratulated Seriki over the endorsement and pledged to work for him. NILD Director-General Prof. Abubakar Suleiman also said he would no longer be participating in the race after the announcement. Kwara ALGON chairman, Abdullahi Danladi, said in a statement that local government chairmen across the state are in full support of the governor’s decision. At least five strong party blocs are to hold various endorsement engagements for the nominee on Wednesday, practically guaranteeing his emergence at the primaries that are slated for Thursday. Tens of thousands of party enthusiasts and supporters thronged the Tunde Idiagbon International Stadium, Ilorin to welcome Seriki just about three hours after his name was announced.
However, despite the endorsement, sources revealed that several aspirants had rejected moves to step down, insisting on participating in Thursday’s direct primary election. A senior party official in Ilorin, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said, “The governor may have made his preference known, but many aspirants are not willing to surrender their ambitions. They believe the ticket should be determined through open contest and not predetermined arrangements.” Kwara currently has the highest number of APC governorship aspirants in the country with 14 contenders, including former Senate Leader Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Muhammed Belgore (SAN), and Salihu Mustapha. Others are Olufemi Sanni, Mohammed Bio, Dr. Alabi Tajudeen, Amb. Yahaya Abdulfatai, Tajudeen Abdulkadir, Azeez Muideen, Bashir Bolanrinwa, Ahmad Mahmoud, Yetunde Bello, Mahalia Pategi and Prof. Olawale Sulaiman.
Oyo State followed closely with 11 governorship aspirants, while Adamawa recorded 10 contenders, reflecting heightened political activity ahead of the primaries. Notable aspirants in Oyo include former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Senator Sharafadeen Alli; Akeem Agbaje and Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin. Adamawa’s crowded field includes Abdulrazak Namdas, Mustapha Salihu, Senator Aminu Abbas, Abdurahaman Haske, Felix Tangwami, Joel Madaki, Bello Ibrahim and three others. Bauchi also recorded eight aspirants, among them the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, and former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. In Abia State, the party recorded four aspirants namely Mascot Uzor-Kalu, Henry Ikoh, Martins Azubuike, and Opah Chinemeucheya. Benue State has four aspirants, Mathias Byuan, Kuraun Isaac, Akutah Ukeyima and Terwase Orbunde, vying for the state’s top job against Governor Hyacinth Alia. Gombe State recorded two aspirants, Senator Sa’id Alkali, who is vying against Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s preferred candidate Jamil Gwamna.
In Plateau State, one of the two governorship aspirants, retired military officer Yilcini Bida, dismissed reports that he had stepped down for Governor Caleb Mutfwang. Speaking on Tuesday, Bida stated, “I want to inform the people of Plateau State that I am still in the race. Rumours are flying around that I have stepped down, but I remain fully committed to contesting the primary on Thursday.” Bida said his administration, if elected, would focus heavily on infrastructure renewal, economic development, and security reforms, adding, “On the lighting project alone, we intend to spend N1tn within one year. We are also proposing the construction of 40km of road in each local government area.” On insecurity, the retired officer promised to strengthen Operation Rainbow, the state-owned security outfit, stating, “As a former military officer, I understand what it takes to restore peace and security in the state. We plan to recruit personnel from rural communities to improve operational efficiency.”
Political negotiations also intensified in Lagos State as aspirants continued to align behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat. One of the governorship aspirants, Samuel Ajose, formally withdrew from the race on Tuesday and announced his support for Hamzat. Ajose said, “I know it is a very tough decision. I struggled with it overnight, but when I woke up in the morning, I had my peace. In the interest of the party, I have decided to step aside and support Hamzat. We are going to be part of his campaign and play an important role.” His withdrawal came weeks after former PDP governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, also stepped down and endorsed Hamzat following consultations with APC leaders. Jandor stated, “Following the endorsement of Dr. Kadiri Hamzat by our leader, the President of Nigeria, and leaders of our party in Lagos, and in recognition of the prevailing realities within the political landscape of our great party, I have decided to withdraw from the 2027 Lagos State gubernatorial race.” However, businessman and politician Lanre Jim-Kamal, who formally declared his intention to contest the APC Lagos governorship ticket last month, has reportedly not stepped down from the race.
An official list obtained from the party showed that several states recorded only one governorship aspirant, highlighting stronger consensus structures in those chapters. These include Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Ogun and Zamfara. A party source at the national secretariat noted that resistance from aspirants in several states could trigger intense primaries if not properly managed, stating, “The party leadership wants consensus because it reduces conflict and litigation, but many aspirants believe they have invested too much politically and financially to simply step down. That is why some states are becoming battlegrounds.”
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