The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved disputes arising from its governorship primaries in nearly all states where the contests generated controversy, paving the way for the submission of its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party has successfully uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and their running mates for 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will hold.
Only one state in the North-East is yet to be completed due to unresolved discussions over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate.
Party sources disclosed that a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled in Abuja on Monday is expected to settle the issue. The delay is linked to the need to replace the state’s current deputy governor, who has completed the maximum two terms in office.
The development comes after weeks of disagreements in states such as Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa and Bauchi, where the APC governorship primaries were fiercely contested.
APC governorship candidates already submitted to INEC
1. Obafemi Hamzat – Lagos
2. Solomon Adeola – Ogun
3. Kingsley Chinda – Rivers
4. Eric Opah – Abia
5. Mohammed Abubakar – Bauchi
6. Mustapha Gubio – Borno
7. Jamilu Gwamna – Gombe
8. Aliyu Wadada – Nasarawa
9. Baba Malam Wali – Yobe
10. Hyacinth Alia – Benue
11. Bassey Otu – Cross River
12. Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta
13. Francis Nwifuru – Ebonyi
14. Peter Mbah – Enugu
15. Umar Namadi – Jigawa
16. Abba Yusuf – Kano
17. Dikko Radda – Katsina
18. Umar Bago – Niger
19. Nasir Idris – Kebbi
20. Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau
21. Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom
22. Dauda Lawal – Zamfara
23. Ahmed Aliyu – Sokoto
24. Yakubu Danladi Salihu – Kwara
25. Sharafadeen Alli – Oyo
26. Ahmed Tijani Galadima – Adamawa
27. Mohammed Abubakar – Bauchi
How key disputes were resolved
In Kwara State, the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu, backed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, initially sparked opposition from several aspirants, including Senators Salihu Mustapha, Oyelola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq Suleiman. However, the disagreements have now been settled.
In Bauchi, the governorship primary led to internal divisions involving prominent party members such as former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Bala Wunti, Nura Manu Soro and Senator Shehu Umar Buba. Following the primary, Buba defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the APC deputy chairman in the state, Ibrahim Misau, also left with several party officials. Despite the setbacks, the APC has concluded its submission process in the state.
In Adamawa, initial tension over Ahmed Tijani Galadima’s emergence has eased. Galadima reportedly enjoyed the support of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, while Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was said to have preferred another aspirant. The governor has since appeared publicly with Galadima, signalling reconciliation within the party.
In Oyo State, former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu had challenged the outcome of the primary and sought redress at the APC National Secretariat. Despite his objections, Senator Sharafadeen Alli was confirmed as the party’s candidate, with Adesoji Adedeji named as his running mate.
A member of the party’s vetting committee, who spoke anonymously, said the APC had made significant progress in completing the upload of its candidates’ details, adding that only one state remains outstanding because of the deputy governorship nomination.
The source also revealed that about 60 percent of the party’s House of Assembly candidates have been uploaded to the INEC portal.
Political parties have until August 8 to submit the names of their governorship and House of Assembly candidates to INEC.
