2027 Elections: APC Unveils 27 Governorship Candidates

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has settled disputes over controversial governorship primaries in some states and uploaded the particulars of its candidates in 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will hold in 2027.

The Nation reports that the party had also submitted the names of the running mates of the 27 candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Only the North-East remains where stakeholders of the party are expected to meet in Abuja on Monday to decide on who to pick as deputy governorship candidate.

Party sources said the delay was due to the need to replace the serving deputy governor who has already served two terms in office.

Some of the uploaded governorship candidates’ details include those of Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa and Bauchi states where the APC primaries had been marred by protests and internal wrangling.

In Kwara, the governorship candidate emerged as Speaker of state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi Salihu.

Senator Sharafadeen Alli was uploaded as the party’s candidate for Oyo State with Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate.

Former Executive Secretary, 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 Selection of Danladi
The Kwara governorship primary had been opposed by some aspirants and party leaders because of the support given to Danladi by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

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The leading aspirants for the ticket were Senator Salihu Mustapha, Kwara Central; Senator Oyelola Ashiru, Kwara South; and Senator Umar Sadiq Suleiman, Kwara North.

It was said that some aspirants and some powerful members of the party in the three senatorial districts were infuriated by Danladi’s appearance.

But APC leadership is said to have mended the differences and gone ahead to submit Danladi’s details to INEC.

Bauchi crisis comes after Abubakar’s victory
The governorship primary in Bauchi State also exposed deep divisions within the APC when former governor Mohammed Abubakar emerged as the party’s candidate.

Several high profile politicians contested, including ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Bala Wunti, Nura Manu Soro and Senator Shehu Umar Buba.

Abubakar’s victory announcement sparked disagreements as some aspirants and their supporters rejected the outcome.

Buba later resigned from the APC to emerge as 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 his support for Buba.

Despite the defections, Abubakar’s name has been uploaded as the APC governorship candidate.

Adamawa Stakeholders Come Together
In Adamawa, the fraternal division over Galadima’s emergence seems to have been mended.

Sources said Galadima was not the preferred choice of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, but had the backing of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Fintiri, who joined the APC months before the primary, was believed 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.

Oyo settles primary dispute
The APC’s governorship primary in Oyo State was also trailed by controversy as former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, kicked against the emergence of Senator Alli.

Adelabu had argued the primary was flawed and told his supporters he would challenge the outcome through the party’s internal appeal process.

Even after Alli was issued his certificate of return and presented Adedeji as his running mate, Adelabu and other aspirants continued to challenge 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 Excellent.
An anonymous member of the APC vetting committee 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.

“We would have finished and closed the process of governorship candidates for one state but for one. “

The official said the sticking point was the choice of a running mate in a North-East state.

“The delay was due to the deputy governorship candidate.

“The issue will be resolved at a crucial meeting of stakeholders slated for Monday (today) here in Abuja,” the official added.

APC Fields 60% Of Assembly Candidates
The party has also uploaded around 60 per cent of its candidates for the state Houses of Assembly elections.

“During the 2027 general elections, there will be House of Assembly elections in all the 36 states.

Political parties have until August 8 to present 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 (Lagos), Solomon Adeola (Ogun), Kingsley Chinda (Rivers), Eric Opah (Abia), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Mustapha Gubio (Borno) and Jamilu Gwamna (Gombe).

Others are Aliyu Wadada, Nasarawa and Baba Malam Wali, Yobe.

The candidates whose names have been downloaded are:

Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos.

Solomon Adeola – Ogun State

Kingsley Chinda – Rivers State

Eric Opah – Abia

= Mohammed Abubakar — Bauchi

Mustapha Gubio- Borno State

JAMILU GWAMNA – GOMBE

Aliyu Wadada – Nasarawa

Baba Malam Wali – Yobe

Hyacinth Alia—Benue State

Bassey Otu — Cross River State

Sheriff Oborevwori Delta State

Francis Nwifuru – Ebonyi

Peter Mbah – Enugu

Umar Namadi, Jigawa

Abba Yusuf of Kano

Dikko Radda – Katsina

Niger – Umar Bago

Kebbi — Nasir Idris

Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau

Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom

Dauda Lawal — Zamfara State

Ahmed Aliyu – Sokoto