By Ayo Kehinde
A wave of high-profile victories marked the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries across several states on Monday, as governors, former governors, and ranking lawmakers secured tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma clinched the APC ticket for Imo West Senatorial District after defeating former governor Rochas Okorocha in the partyโs primary election.
The APC primaries across the stateโs three senatorial zones also produced businessman Alex Mbata as the partyโs candidate for Owerri Zone, while incumbent Senator Patrick Ndubueze retained the ticket for Okigwe zone.
Former Senator Ifeanyi Ararume was reported to have stepped down in support of Ndubueze ahead of the exercise.
Speaking after voting at Omuma ward during the Imo West primary, Uzodimma described the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and reflective of the APCโs growing popularity in the state.
He commended party members for their active participation and described the direct primary model as one of the freest and fairest electoral processes in the country.
The governor expressed confidence in the APCโs strength ahead of the 2027 elections and projected victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential poll, citing the turnout recorded during the primaries as evidence of the partyโs growing support base.
In Delta State, Senator Ede Dafinone emerged victorious in the APC Delta Central Senatorial District primary election, defeating former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, by a wide margin.
According to the official results announced by the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, Dafinone polled 116,252 votes, while Omo-Agege secured 3,643 votes.
The results were collated by Hon. Dr Okiemute E. Benjamin and announced at the collation centre in Ughelli by Barrister Nusa Amagbor, Secretary of the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, with support from committee member, Abimbola Samuel Dart.
Announcing the outcome, Amagbor stated that Dafinone overwhelmingly won the exercise after securing the majority of votes cast during the primary election.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Orji Uzor Kalu, won the APC senatorial primary for Abia North Senatorial District in a landslide.
The former Abia State governor defeated his lone challenger, Philip Nto, after polling 65,651 votes against 2,103 votes.
According to figures released by the APC Primary Election Committee, the direct primary election was conducted across the five local government areas and 57 wards of the senatorial district with massive participation by party members.
Chairman of the Abia North Senatorial National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Mr Chinedu Christian Kanu, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and credible.
Kalu later commended party members, stakeholders, and electoral officials for ensuring a smooth process, stressing that fairness and credibility were upheld throughout the exercise.
The victory has now cleared the path for Kaluโs re-election bid in the February 2027 National Assembly elections.
Also in Katsina State, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Nasir Yahaya-Daura, emerged winner of the APC primary election for the Daura Senatorial Zone.
Yahaya-Daura polled 78,394 votes to defeat Ahmed Kabir, who secured 2,274 votes, according to results announced by Dr Yakubu Maccido, the partyโs representative from the APC national headquarters.
Similarly, Muntari Dandutse and Abdulโaziz Musa-Yarโadua secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements adopted by the party.
The outcomes of the APC senatorial primaries across Imo, Delta, Abia, Ogun, Kogi, and Katsina states underscore the partyโs growing momentum and strategic preparations for the 2027 general elections as it consolidates its structures and positions prominent political figures for key National Assembly contests nationwide.
Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Kogi Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections, following a sweeping victory in the partyโs primary election held on Monday.
The direct primary election was conducted across the five local government areas that make up the senatorial district, with Bello recording overwhelming victories in all councils to secure what party officials described as a resounding mandate from party members.
Announcing the results at the collation centre in Okene, the Returning Officer for the exercise, Sadiq Mohammed, said the election was peaceful, orderly, and credible, reflecting the partyโs commitment to transparency and internal democracy.
According to the official results, Bello polled a total of 72,399 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Ibrahim Adoke, who garnered 319 votes, while Momoh Yusuf Obaro secured 188 votes.
A breakdown of the results showed that the former governor dominated the contest across the districtโs five local government areas. In Adavi Local Government Area, Bello secured 18,341 votes, while he polled 10,298 votes in Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
He also recorded 5,146 votes in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area, further consolidating his commanding lead in the race.
In Okehi Local Government Area, Bello scored 8,943 votes, while his strongest showing came from Okene Local Government Area, where he secured 29,621 votes.
Mohammed stated that the cumulative total of 72,399 votes represented a clear and decisive endorsement of Bello by APC members across Kogi Central.
Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun emerged winner of the Ogun East Senatorial District APC primary election held across the nine local government areas of the district ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The result was announced by the returning officer for the senatorial district, Wale Bello, at Itoro Hall in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area.
According to Bello, Abiodun polled 75,560 votes from 99,503 registered voters to secure victory in the exercise conducted by the ruling party.
