No fewer than 30 or 31 governors, 88 senators, 242 members of the House of Representatives and President Bola Tinubu’s sole challenger, Osifo Stanley, and 2,620 others will know today whether or not they will contest the 2027 elections on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the party publishes the names of cleared aspirants in line with the timelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the polls.
Vanguard gathered that the party screened no fewer than 2,980 aspirants for one presidential slot, 28 governorship, 109 Senate, 360 House of Representatives, and 991 state assembly positions between May 8 and 12, 2026.
The screening panel granted President Tinubu a waiver.
Major Names Under The Microscope
Among those screened are a host of serving and former governors, lawmakers and technocrats, who purchased and submitted expression of interest and nomination forms.
Among those whose fate hangs on today’s publication is Osifo Stanley, the only aspirant challenging President Tinubu for the presidential ticket.
Also among those screened is Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who holds multiple positions as Imo State Governor, Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors leading President Tinubu’s re-election push.
Vanguard gathered that the APC hierarchy is under pressure to prevail on Uzodimma to drop his senatorial ambition, which they said would create crisis in the polity — because if Uzodimma runs for the Imo West senatorial seat and wins, he would hold two positions at the same time, as his governorship will lapse in January 2028.
Other prominent names whose fate will be known today include House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who is gunning for the Abia State governorship and recently fought against a petition accusing him of attending the Law School and doing the one-year national youth service at the same time; Ogun East Senator and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo; serving Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, who is challenging his predecessor Dankwambo for a senatorial seat; and Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who faces two formidable opponents in former Senator Gbolahan Dada and ex-Works Commissioner, Olayiwola Taiwo, for the APC ticket in Ogun West senatorial district.
APC National Chairman Reads The Riot Act
With most of the aspirants insisting on direct primaries, kicking against consensus, and threatening fire and brimstone if candidates were imposed, the National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, on Monday read the riot act to unruly aspirants, warning that the forthcoming primaries must be conducted peacefully or sanctions will follow.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said: “The leadership of the party will not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the smooth conduct of the primaries.”
He noted that any aspirant or supporter found instigating violence, sponsoring unrest, engaging in anti-party activities, or attempting to undermine the integrity of the process will face severe disciplinary measures, including immediate suspension from the party.
“I Have Reached The Point Of No Return” — Gbenga Daniel Vows To Beat Abiodun
Meanwhile, Otunba Gbenga Daniel on Tuesday declared that he is fully prepared to contest the primary, expressing confidence that he will emerge victorious in a free and fair contest against Governor Dapo Abiodun for the Ogun East senatorial seat.
Daniel, who spoke during the BAT/OGD Movement Mid-Term Assessment Tour and Empowerment Programme of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, which took place in Ijebu-Ode, said no aspirant within the party could match his popularity and grassroots support across Ogun East.
The former Governor maintained that the decision on who will fly the party’s flag ultimately rested with APC members at the ward level, urging party faithful not to succumb to intimidation or political pressure during the primary election.
“I have reached the point of no return in this contest. On the day of the primary election, every APC member should go to his or her ward with their membership card and vote for the candidate of their choice,” Daniel said.
“In a free and fair primary, I will not only win, I will win overwhelmingly. The people know those who are working for them and those who truly have their interests at heart.”
Daniel alleged that some forces within the APC were planning to intimidate members and suppress voter turnout during the party primary, warning supporters against being discouraged.