APC uploads governorship candidates for 27 states ahead of INEC deadline

…resolves primary disputes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and their running mates for 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will be held, signalling that the party has largely resolved disputes arising from its primaries ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline.

Party sources said only one Northeast state remains outstanding due to disagreement over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate, with a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja expected to conclude the process.

The development comes as political parties race to meet the August 8 deadline set by INEC for the submission of governorship and House of Assembly candidates.

Among the candidates whose details have been uploaded are Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos), Solomon Adeola (Ogun), Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo), Kingsley Chinda (Rivers), Eric Opah (Abia), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Mustapha Gubio (Borno), Jamilu Gwamna (Gombe), Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa), Yakubu Danladi Salihu (Kwara), Baba Malam Wali (Yobe), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Ahmed Tijani Galadima (Adamawa), Umar Bago (Niger), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto) and Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi).

The party also confirmed that Sharafadeen Alli will fly the APC flag in Oyo State with Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate, while Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, emerged as the party’s candidate in Kwara.

Ahmed Tijani Galadima, a former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, will contest the Adamawa governorship election on the APC platform, while Mohammed Abubakar, a former Bauchi governor, secured the party’s ticket in Bauchi.

The four states—Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa and Bauchi—recorded some of the most contentious governorship primaries, with aggrieved aspirants challenging the outcomes.

In Kwara, the emergence of Yakubu Danladi Salihu generated opposition from several aspirants, including Salihu Mustapha, Oyelola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq Suleiman, following the backing he received from AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Bauchi witnessed prolonged internal disagreements after Mohammed Abubakar emerged as candidate, prompting Shehu Umar Buba to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he secured the governorship ticket. Ibrahim Misau, the APC deputy chairman in the state, also left the party alongside some ward and local government officials in support of Buba.

In Adamawa, party leaders appear to have reunited behind Ahmed Tijani Galadima after the primary. Although Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri reportedly favoured another aspirant, he has since been seen publicly with Galadima, signalling reconciliation within the party.

The Oyo contest also generated controversy after Adebayo Adelabu continued to challenge the primary results despite Sharafadeen Alli receiving his certificate of return and unveiling Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate. Party sources, however, said the disputes have now been resolved.

A member of the APC vetting committee, who spoke anonymously, said the party had made significant progress in completing the upload of governorship candidates and deputies.

According to the source, only one Northeast state remains unresolved because of disagreement over the deputy governorship candidate, adding that the issue was expected to be settled at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The source also disclosed that the APC has uploaded about 60 per cent of its House of Assembly candidates as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections. House of Assembly elections will be conducted in all 36 states alongside other polls.