Withdrawals, delays, intrigues trail APC guber primaries in Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, others

…Polls postponed in Kwara over logistics, last-minute negotiations

…Uba Sani secures return ticket in Kaduna

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries held across the country on Thursday were marred by intrigues, last-minute withdrawals, logistical setbacks and intense political horse-trading, as aspirants and party stakeholders battled for control of party structures ahead of the 2027 governorship elections.

In several states, the exercise suffered delays following the late arrival of electoral committees and voting materials, forcing party members and supporters to wait for hours before voting commenced.

The situation was most dramatic in Kwara State, where the APC leadership abruptly postponed the governorship primary earlier scheduled for Thursday till Friday amid growing political tension and ongoing negotiations among aspirants.

Kwara had remained one of the most closely watched states due to the large number of governorship aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket before Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorsed Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor.

Read also: Kwara APC Primaries: Eight guber aspirants step down for Yahaya Seriki

Meanwhile, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has emerged the governorship candidate of the APC for the 2027 poll after securing an overwhelming 459,393 affirmation votes at the party’s primary election held on Thursday.

APC postpones primaries in Kwara

Sunday Fagbemi, Kwara APC chairman, confirmed the postponement to journalists in Ilorin, saying officials from the party’s national headquarters directed that the exercise be shifted till Friday.

“We do not have details for the cancellation other than the fact that the team from the national office came and instructed that the election should hold today,” he said.

Before the postponement, party members, including elderly persons and visually impaired supporters, had trooped out across parts of Kwara Central Senatorial District as early as 8:30 am in anticipation of the exercise.

Eight aspirants withdraw from race

Before the postponement, eight governorship aspirants had stepped down and endorsed Seriki following consultations and negotiations led by key stakeholders in the state.

Those who withdrew include Salako Muyideen Oluwatoyin, Captain Ahmad Mahmoud, Wale Sulaiman, Mohammed Omar Bio, Toyin Alabi, Aisha Ahman Patigi, Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe and Yakubu Salihu Danladi, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

The race had earlier attracted 16 aspirants, making it one of the most competitive governorship contests within the APC.

Sources within the party said Seriki held strategic meetings with fellow aspirants and influential stakeholders on Wednesday night, leading to a consensus arrangement aimed at preserving party unity. There were indications on Thursday night that more aspirants might withdraw before the rescheduled primary.

Read also: Plateau APC primaries rocked by intrigues, upsets, violence, alignments

Tension, delays in Plateau

In Plateau State, tension, political alignments and behind-the-scenes negotiations dominated the governorship primary as voting failed to commence in several local government areas hours after the scheduled time.

Although party officials had announced that voting would begin simultaneously by 8 am, many wards in Jos North and Jos South were yet to receive electoral materials as of 4 pm.

The delay heightened anxiety among party loyalists and supporters amid concerns over internal disagreements and power struggles within the party. Observers described the contest as one of the fiercest governorship battles within the Plateau APC in recent years.

Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau governor, and Yilchini Jan Bida, a retired naval officer, are the major contenders in the race, with both camps intensifying mobilisation efforts across the state.

Party insiders disclosed that consultations and political alignments among stakeholders continued late into Wednesday night ahead of the exercise.

A party source linked the delay to logistical challenges and efforts to resolve disagreements before voting.

Delays mar Benue primary

In Benue State, party members decried the late arrival of electoral materials, accusing officials of frustrating the voting process in parts of the state.

Terfa Shiior and Ngilianze Gbakela, among other party members, said they arrived early at their voting centres only to discover that materials had not been distributed.
They alleged that the delay was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise supporters of certain aspirants.

As of a few minutes to 3 pm, electoral officials were still distributing materials at the APC secretariat for the governorship primary. The Benue contest had earlier generated tension after some aspirants reportedly refused to step down for Hyacinth Alia, the governor, who is seeking a second term.

Two aspirants withdraw in Adamawa

In Adamawa State, Mustapha Salihu, a frontline governorship aspirant, withdrew from the race following directives from the APC national leadership.

Ahmad Sajoh, head of strategic communication for the campaign organisation, disclosed in a statement that Salihu would now contest the Adamawa Central Senatorial seat on the APC platform.

BusinessDay reports that the development came after the party had concluded the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms, screening and senatorial primaries earlier in the week.

Also, Diaulhaq Abubakar withdrew from the governorship race on the eve of the primary and endorsed fellow aspirant Tijjani Ahmed Galadima. He announced his decision during a meeting with supporters in Yola, saying the move was aimed at strengthening party unity and advancing the development of Adamawa State.

Read also: Uba Sani secures APC ticket with 459,393 affirmation votes

Uba Sani secures return ticket in Kaduna

Meanwhile, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has emerged the governorship candidate of the APC for the 2027 poll after securing an overwhelming 459,393 affirmation votes at the party’s primary election held on Thursday.

Sani who was the sole aspirant, received a resounding endorsement from delegates and stakeholders across the state in what party leaders described as a strong vote of confidence in his leadership, performance and political direction.

The primary election, monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), drew top APC leaders, elected officials, delegates and supporters across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Announcing the result, Hafiz Ibrahim Kawu, chairman of the Kaduna APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primary Election Committee, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and reflective of the growing unity and internal cohesion within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking shortly after his affirmation, Governor Sani thanked APC members, stakeholders and the people of Kaduna State for what he described as an overwhelming demonstration of trust and solidarity, and assured residents that his administration would consolidate on the gains already recorded and intensify efforts towards building a more peaceful, prosperous and economically vibrant Kaduna State.

The process was still ongoing in many states at press time, with outcomes being expected.