The All Progressives Congress (APC) successfully conducted governorship primaries in 25 states on Thursday but was forced to postpone the exercise in Kwara and Bauchi states and two House of Assembly constituencies in Zamfara after the party leadership failed to secure consensus arrangements, while late arrival of electoral materials also disrupted the process in Nasarawa State.
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The postponements came as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s dramatic withdrawal from the Rivers governorship race on the eve of the primaries triggered outrage among his supporters, who accused powerful interests of cornering the governor politically. Meanwhile, the party constituted key election management structures for its presidential primary scheduled for Friday, May 23, 2026, appointing a committee chaired by former Senate President Pius Anyim.
The Postponements: Consensus Collapses
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced that the governorship primaries in Kwara and Bauchi states had been rescheduled to Friday, May 22, while the State House of Assembly primaries for Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies in Zamfara were moved to Sunday, May 24.
Morka attributed the postponements to the NWC’s commitment to ensuring “transparent, orderly, peaceful and credible primary election process.” But despite the official explanation, the delays immediately fuelled suspicions of manipulation and imposition among party members in both states.
Kwara: Eight Aspirants Step Down for Governor’s Choice
In Kwara State, the postponement deepened political uncertainty as intense behind-the-scenes negotiations unfolded around Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred successor, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki.
Barely hours after the postponement was announced, no fewer than eight governorship aspirants stepped down for Seriki following what party insiders described as strategic consultations designed to preserve party unity and ensure continuity of the AbdulRazaq administration.
Those who withdrew included Prof. Wale Sulaiman, Dr Mohammed Bio, Dr Toyin Alabi, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Captain Ahmad Mahmoud, Hajia Aisha Patigi, Dr Salako Oluwatoyin, and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.
Sources familiar with a Wednesday night meeting said the aspirants resolved to support Seriki “in the interest of unity and continuity,” with renewed commitments to “party cohesion, issue-based engagement and a peaceful primary process.”
Even before the postponement was officially communicated, party members had already gathered in several wards across Kwara Central for the exercise. At Adewole Ward in Ilorin West Local Government Area, supporters of various aspirants dominated the venue as chants of “Sai Yahaya” echoed repeatedly. By about 2pm, many party members began dispersing after waiting endlessly for electoral officials and materials.
At Gambari Ward II in Ilorin East, a visually impaired APC member, Abubakar Gobir, told journalists he had arrived early to participate. “We are here to exercise our civic rights as loyal party members,” he said. Another visually impaired supporter, Rufai Yusuf, declared his support for Seriki.
Confusion also trailed the process in parts of Kwara South. At Ganmo/Idofian, a party member, Adebayo Yakeen, claimed ward members improvised their own voting arrangement after electoral officials failed to arrive, but ward officials dismissed the claim, insisting materials were still being awaited.
Kwara APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, confirmed the postponement but declined to provide detailed reasons. “We don’t have details for the cancellation other than the fact that the team from the national office came and instructed that the election will be held tomorrow,” he said.
Bauchi: Supporters Storm Committee Hotel
The crisis over consensus politics exploded in Bauchi State where supporters of governorship aspirant Nura Soro staged protests over fears of alleged manipulation and candidate imposition.
The supporters stormed the hotel where members of the APC electoral committee were reportedly lodged, insisting that the process must remain transparent and credible.
Director of the Nura Soro Campaign Organisation, Dr Auwal Jada, accused unnamed interests of attempting to secretly collate and alter results. “This is the way previous primary elections were conducted. Our people are here peacefully to protect electoral materials and ensure transparency,” Jada stated.
Another supporter, Musa Buba, questioned why only Bauchi and Kwara witnessed postponements. “Why was the election postponed? There must be reasons behind it. Other states conducted their primaries, but Bauchi and Kwara were postponed. That is why many people are beginning to suspect foul play,” he said.
Buba invoked the precedent of President Tinubu’s own emergence: “The President emerged through the ballot, not through consensus. That is the same democratic process we are demanding here in Bauchi.”
Rivers: Fubara’s Exit Triggers Outrage
In Rivers State, Governor Fubara’s withdrawal from the APC governorship race on Wednesday night which he framed as a sacrifice for “peace and unity” triggered outrage among supporters and political associates who accused powerful interests within the APC of cornering the governor politically.
The National President of the South-South Youths Initiative, Saviour Imeabe, described the decision as deeply disappointing. “Leadership is not about personal comfort. It is about responsibility to the people who stood with you when it matters most. To turn away now is to abandon the very people who made the mandate possible,” he said, warning that “history will not be kind to leaders who retreat when the people need them most.”
APC governorship aspirant Solomon Lenu described the withdrawal as “a painful tsunami” for the governor’s supporters and alleged: “The President deceived the governor of Rivers State all along. All the structures have been taken away from him long ago and handed over to the minister.”
Former aide Chris Itamunola also faulted the withdrawal: “What peace? For the past three years, almost four years, have we had peace? The implication of this is that we are now being thrown into a mighty ocean and each one of us is expected to now struggle to swim.”
Despite the controversy, the APC governorship primary proceeded in Rivers, with Wike ally Kingsley Ogundu Chinda emerging victorious as the sole aspirant with 268,497 votes.
Results Across the States
Across the 25 states where primaries were concluded, incumbent governors and consensus-backed candidates dominated the outcomes.
In Lagos, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat polled 657,917 votes out of 657,974 accredited, defeating Lanre Jim-Kamal who received one vote. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was present for the declaration.
In Delta, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori secured his second-term ticket with 345,375 votes. “For the first time in Delta State, our primaries were conducted peacefully without violence, crisis or loss of lives. Nobody imposed candidates on the people,” Oborevwori stated.
In Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah clinched the APC ticket as party members turned out massively across 260 wards. Federal lawmaker Nnolim Nnaji praised Mbah as “The Rock” for his governance performance.
In Gombe, Jamilu Ishiaku Gwamna produced one of the day’s biggest surprises by defeating former ministers Isa Pantami (12,120 votes) and Saidu Alkali (11,612 votes) with 247,161 votes. Both former ministers had earlier announced boycotts alleging irregularities but their names remained on the ballot.
In Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani secured 459,393 affirmation votes. In Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf was adopted unanimously with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin moving the motion. In Katsina, Governor Dikko Radda was affirmed through a voice vote by 1,805 delegates. In Kebbi, Governor Nasir Idris received unanimous endorsement across 225 wards. In Niger, Governor Bago emerged unopposed. In Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal was affirmed by voice vote. In Jigawa, Governor Namadi was affirmed through consensus.
In Ogun, Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) emerged unopposed after all other aspirants withdrew. “The decision to present me as the consensus candidate was not foisted on the party. It was a result of far-reaching consultation and agreement among stakeholders,” Adeola stated.
In Abia, Chief Henry Ikoh was adopted as the consensus candidate by 13 out of 18 members of the State Working Committee after aspirant Mascot Uzor-Kalu withdrew, citing equity and zoning considerations related to his brother Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s senatorial ticket.
In Adamawa, former APC National Vice Chairman Mustapha Salihu and aspirants Diaulhaq Abubakar and Ibrahim Thul withdrew in support of Ahmed Galadima.
In Oyo, Senator Sharafadeen Alli expressed confidence in emerging as the party’s candidate and urged unity. Chairman of the APC Monitoring Committee, Ayo Afolabi, praised the orderly conduct.
Delay in Nasarawa
In Nasarawa State, the governorship primary was characterised by the late arrival of electoral materials across several wards, with the process expected to be completed on Friday.
At Kokona and Lafia, hundreds of party members waited for hours while security personnel maintained order. Most wards in Nasarawa South and West had not received primary election materials as of 6pm. At Dunoma Primary School centre in Lafia, hundreds of party faithful and supporters were seen stranded.
Aspirants vying for the position include Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada Governor Sule’s preferred candidate former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, former NASENI executive vice chairman, former Accountant General Zakka Yakubu, and Hassan Liman, SAN, among others.
Presidential Primary Set for Friday
In a parallel development that shifts attention to the party’s highest-profile internal exercise, the APC constituted key election management structures for its 2026 presidential primary, scheduled for Friday, May 23, 2026.
The party has two presidential aspirants: incumbent President Bola Tinubu and Stanley Osifo.
According to guidelines signed by APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, the direct primary exercise will be conducted across all 8,809 wards nationwide, with results collated at the local government level. Outcomes from the 774 local government areas will be compiled by designated Local Government Collation Officers and forwarded through state-level coordinators to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja.
The Presidential Primary Election Committee is chaired by former Senate President Pius Anyim, with former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Victor Udo Udoma, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Ponle, Jolly Nyame, and Idris Wada as members, and Sanusi Musa as secretary.
The Presidential Primary Election Appeal Committee is chaired by former Katsina Governor Aminu Masari, with Samuel Piwuna as secretary and Patricia Olubunmi Etteh as member.
The party also released a comprehensive list of State Coordinators and Collation Officers, which notably includes virtually all 36 state governors — from both APC-governed and opposition-governed states — as well as several prominent lawmakers and party officials. The list includes Governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and others across all states and the FCT.
The inclusion of Governor Fubara as Rivers State coordinator — despite his withdrawal from the governorship race — suggests the presidential primary appointment was made before his exit from the governorship contest, or that the party considers his continued role in the presidential exercise separate from the governorship question.
Summary of Key Governorship Primary Results
| State | Winner | Mode | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | Obafemi Hamzat | Direct | 657,917 |
| Delta | Sheriff Oborevwori | Direct | 345,375 |
| Rivers | Kingsley Chinda | Sole Aspirant | 268,497 |
| Gombe | Jamilu Gwamna | Direct | 247,161 |
| Kaduna | Uba Sani | Affirmation | 459,393 |
| Ogun | Solomon Adeola (Yayi) | Unopposed | — |
| Enugu | Peter Mbah | Consensus | — |
| Kano | Abba Yusuf | Consensus | Affirmed |
| Katsina | Dikko Radda | Consensus | 1,805 delegates |
| Kebbi | Nasir Idris | Consensus | Unanimous |
| Niger | Mohammed Bago | Unopposed | — |
| Jigawa | Umar Namadi | Consensus | Affirmed |
| Zamfara | Dauda Lawal | Consensus | Affirmed |
| Abia | Henry Ikoh | Consensus | SWC Adopted |
| Bauchi | Postponed to May 22 | — | — |
| Kwara | Postponed to May 22 | — | — |
The APC governorship primaries have confirmed the ruling party’s candidate lineup for most of the 28 states holding governorship elections in February 2027, but the postponements in Kwara and Bauchi, the delays in Nasarawa, and the political fallout from Fubara’s withdrawal in Rivers indicate that the internal reconciliation challenge facing the party remains formidable.
The presidential primary on Friday is expected to be a largely ceremonial exercise given President Tinubu’s incumbency advantage and the absence of a serious challenger, but its conduct across all 8,809 wards will serve as a nationwide organizational test for the party ahead of the general elections.
The appointment of former Senate President Pius Anyim a former PDP stalwart who has crossed to the APC to chair the presidential primary committee underscores the party’s strategy of incorporating high-profile defectors into its most visible institutional roles.
With the governorship primaries largely concluded, the APC’s attention now turns to the presidential primary, the resolution of outstanding disputes from the senatorial and House of Representatives contests, and the massive reconciliation effort required to unite a party whose primary season has produced winners, losers, and a significant number of aggrieved aspirants threatening to seek alternative platforms — a prospect made more viable by the Federal High Court judgment that struck down INEC’s restrictive election timelines.
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