The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections for House of Representatives and Senate seats ahead of the 2027 general elections have produced a wave of drama, controversy, and political upheaval across multiple states, with a leaked pre-selection list sparking outrage in Adamawa State, suspected thugs disrupting results announcement in Ondo State, a sitting senator disqualified in Rivers State, and six lawmakers loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation losing their seats in Benue State.
The primaries, conducted across the country over the weekend, also saw key allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike sweep all 13 House of Representatives tickets in Rivers State, Rep Yusuf Gagdi lose his bid for a third term in Plateau State, and supporters of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel boycott the Ogun East Senate primary over alleged threats of violence.
Adamawa: Leaked “Abuja List” Sparks Outrage
Fresh scandal erupted ahead of Monday’s APC primaries in Adamawa State after a purported list containing the names of “pre-selected” Senate and House of Representatives candidates surfaced online, fuelling allegations that the exercise had already been hijacked by powerful interests in Abuja.
The leaked document contained the names of candidates allegedly pencilled down as winners before delegates cast a single vote. On the controversial Senate list, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was named as the supposed candidate for Adamawa North Senatorial District, while Felix Tangwami reportedly emerged as the “favoured” candidate for Adamawa South. Curiously, no name was attached to the Adamawa Central Senatorial District slot, with sources telling SaharaReporters that the fate of the central ticket would be determined late Sunday night depending on the outcome of governorship ticket arrangements and ongoing power calculations among party heavyweights.
The emergence of Tangwami on the list particularly angered supporters of other high-profile aspirants from Adamawa South, including former Senator Grace Bent, a prominent APC chieftain recently nominated by President Tinubu as ambassador to Togo. Bent had collected her nomination and expression of interest forms in April to contest the Adamawa South senatorial seat, raising indications that she may have opted to pursue her political ambition instead of the diplomatic posting.
Party members loyal to Bent described her omission from the alleged “Abuja arrangement” as shocking, with some insiders arguing that despite her longstanding political structure and influence, she was “sacrificed in the ongoing power-sharing calculations among top APC figures.”
“This is no longer a primary election; it is selection from Abuja,” one furious aspirant told SaharaReporters. Party insiders warned that the emergence of the “Abuja list” could trigger fresh rebellion, legal action, and mass protest within the APC in Adamawa.
Rivers: Wike Allies Sweep, Banigo Disqualified
In Rivers State, key allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dominated the APC primaries, securing all 13 House of Representatives tickets in what can be viewed as another test of might between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whose defection from the PDP to the APC has made little impact on the political equation in the oil-rich state.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, won the Obio/Akpor ticket, while Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Dum Dekor, secured the Khana/Gokana ticket.
Other winners declared by the APC Primary Election Committee Chairman for Rivers State, Wahab Owokoniran, include Solomon Bob (Abua-Odual/Ahoada East), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni), Isobo Jack (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru), Frederick Apiafi (Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro), Cyril Hart (Degema/Bonny), Felix Nwaeke (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo), Linda Somieari Stewart (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo), Blessing Chigeru Amadi (PHALGA 2), Igwe Precious (PHALGA 1), Ozuzum Chibuzor Nwamaka (Etche/Omuma), and Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi (Ikwerre/Emohua).
Owokoniran described the exercise as peaceful and orderly, noting that no case of violence or disruption was recorded. “Contrary to the impression out there that Rivers State is very violent, but surprisingly, I myself was disappointed that there wasn’t any form of violence,” he said.
However, on the Senate side, the APC screening committee disqualified the incumbent Senator representing Rivers West, Ipalibo Banigo — who served as Deputy Governor under Wike from 2015 to 2023 — from participating in the primaries. Three other aspirants were also disqualified alongside Banigo: APC 2023 presidential aspirant Tein Jack-Rich, Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree, and Dr Wenike Danagogo (also identified in some reports as Dr Tammy Danagogo, former Secretary to the State Government).
The committee, however, cleared Senator Allwell Onyesoh for Rivers East, former PDP chairman Bro. Felix Obuah as sole candidate for Rivers West, and Chief Barry Nwara as sole candidate for Rivers South-East.
Plateau: Rep Gagdi Loses Third-Term Bid
In one of the most notable upsets of the primary season, Rep Yusuf Gagdi, currently Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Navy and representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, lost his bid for a third term.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr Daspan Ishaya, announced that Dr John Tongshinen scored 29,968 votes to defeat Gagdi, who polled just 5,849 votes — a crushing margin that left no room for dispute. The primaries were observed by officials of INEC.
Benue: Six Akume Loyalists Fall, David Mark’s Daughter Wins
The APC primaries in Benue State produced dramatic results that exposed the fault lines between the camps of SGF George Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia. Six serving lawmakers, five of them loyal to Akume, lost their return bids to candidates believed to have the backing of Governor Alia.