The All Progressives Congress (APC) has submitted the names of its governorship candidates and their running mates for 27 states to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the resolution of disputes that trailed several governorship primaries across the country.
The party has only one outstanding governorship submission, which involves a state in the North-East where consultations are still ongoing over the selection of a deputy governorship candidate. The current deputy governor in the state has completed the constitutionally allowed two terms and cannot return to office.
The development comes ahead of the 2027 governorship elections, which will take place in 28 states. Political parties have until August 8 to complete the submission of their governorship and House of Assembly candidates to INEC.
Among the candidates whose names have now been uploaded are Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, who will fly the APC flag in Kwara State, and Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who will contest the Oyo State governorship election alongside his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji.
The submission marks the end of weeks of internal disagreements that followed governorship primaries in several states, particularly Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa and Bauchi, where some aspirants challenged the outcomes.
In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s backing of Danladi during the primary generated resistance from several leading aspirants, including Senators Salihu Mustapha, Oyelola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq Suleiman. The outcome also drew criticism from some party leaders across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Bauchi State witnessed one of the party’s most intense internal contests. The governorship race attracted several influential politicians, including Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Bala Wunti, Nura Manu Soro and Senator Shehu Umar Buba.
Following Mohammed Abubakar’s emergence as the APC candidate, disagreements within the party deepened. Senator Buba later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he secured the governorship ticket. The crisis also led to the departure of the APC Deputy Chairman in Bauchi, Ibrahim Misau, along with several ward and local government executives from Misau Local Government Area, who declared support for Buba.
In Adamawa State, the contest initially reflected differences among top political figures within the APC. Ahmed Tijani Galadima reportedly secured the support of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, while Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was said to have preferred another aspirant. Despite the early disagreement, party members have since united behind Galadima, with the governor appearing alongside him at political events.
The situation in Oyo State also generated controversy after former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, questioned the outcome of the primary and sought redress through the party’s appeal process. Even after Sharafadeen Alli received his certificate of return and unveiled his running mate, some aspirants maintained that the matter had not been concluded. The submission of Alli’s name to the INEC portal has now settled the issue.
Party sources disclosed that the remaining delay concerns only the nomination of a deputy governorship candidate in one North-East state. A stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja is expected to resolve the matter, after which the final submission will be completed.
The APC has also uploaded several first-time governorship candidates, including Obafemi Hamzat for Lagos State, Solomon Adeola for Ogun, Kingsley Chinda for Rivers, Eric Opah for Abia, Mustapha Gubio for Borno, Jamilu Gwamna for Gombe, Aliyu Wadada for Nasarawa and Baba Malam Wali for Yobe.
Returning governors seeking another term whose names have also been submitted include 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), Umar Bago (Niger), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto).
In addition to the governorship submissions, the APC has completed the upload of about 60 per cent of its House of Assembly candidates as preparations continue for the nationwide state assembly elections.
The party is expected to conclude the remaining submissions before the INEC deadline.
