Former Governor Yahaya Bello has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Kogi Central in a decisive victory on Monday.
The direct primary election was conducted across the five local government areas that make up Kogi Central senatorial district.
The Returning Officer, Dr Sadiq Mohammed, announced the results at the collation centre in Okene, describing the exercise as orderly and credible.
Mohammed said Bello polled 72,399 votes, defeating Ibrahim Adoke, who scored 319 votes, and Momoh Yusuf Obaro with 188 votes.
He added that Bello recorded overwhelming victories across all five local government areas in the district.
In Adavi Local Government Area, Bello secured 18,341 votes, while he scored 10,298 votes in Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
He also garnered 5,146 votes in Ogori Local Government Area, consolidating his wide margin in the contest.
Further results showed Bello polled 8,943 votes in Okehi and 29,621 votes in Okene, his strongest base.
The returning officer said the total of 72,399 votes confirmed a clear and decisive mandate for Bello across the district.
He noted that the process reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy and peaceful conduct during the primary election.
The outcome positions Bello as the All Progressives Congress flagbearer for the Kogi Central senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has been affirmed as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kano North Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He emerged through affirmation which took place at Bichi, the Bichi Local Government Area (LGA) headquaarters on Monday.
In attendance were thousands of party members from the district’s 13 LGAs as well as officials from the APC national headquarters.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At exactly 14:20 hours, the chairman of APC Electoral Committee for the Kano North Senatorial Primary Election, Shehu Isa Direba, called on members to affirm Barau”s candidature.
The crowd unanimously responded ‘yes’.
The chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Elections Committee for Kano State, Hon. Musa Yahaya, similarly sought and received the endorsement of party members for Barau’s candidature for the January 16 National Assembly election.
The leader of the INEC monitoring team, Mr Abdulrahman Haruna, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the exercise.
Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State represented by his deputy, Murtala Garo, commended the process and expressed confidence that Kano North would vote overwhelmingly for President Bola Tinubu, Yusuf, Barau and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“We are happy. Kano North is for APC at all times.
“We are one family in APC. Insha Allah, before noon on election day, Sen. Barau will secure his seat, while President Tinubu and all our candidates will emerge victorious,” he said.
In his remarks, Senator Barau thanked party members for their support and pledged continued effective representation.
He also expressed appreciation to Tinubu for his leadership of the APC and the nation, and commended Yusuf for his efforts to reposition Kano State.
“Let us not waver in our support for Mr President. President Tinubu means well for northern Nigeria and is doing extremely well for us.
“Let us come out en masse and vote for the APC at all levels,” he said.
Former Abia Governor and incumbent Senator for Abia North, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Abia North.
Chief Emeka Atuma and Chief Uchenna Erondu Jnr. were also declared winners for Abia Central and Abia South respectively during the nationwide primaries held on Monday.
Kalu secured the party’s ticket with a landslide victory over his lone challenger, Dr Philips Nto.
According to results announced at the APC collation centre in Umuahia, Kalu polled 65,651 votes to defeat Nto, who garnered 2,103 votes. The margin of victory stood at 63,548 votes.
The direct primary was held across the five local government areas and 57 wards of Abia North.
A total of 72,028 voters were registered, out of which 69,441 were accredited. Total votes cast stood at 67,854.
Declaring the result, Chairman of the Abia North Senatorial National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Mr Chinedu Kanu, described the process as peaceful, transparent, and credible.
He commended APC members, stakeholders, and electoral officials for ensuring a smooth exercise across the district.
Kanu said Kalu secured overwhelming support from party members through the transparent direct primary process aimed at producing credible candidates for 2027.
In Abia Central, Chief Emeka Atuma polled 36,935 votes to defeat Sen. Nkechi Nworgu, who scored 11,451 votes, while Chief Samuel Onuigbo secured 5,833 votes.
Returning Officer Thomas Nkoro declared Atuma the winner.
In Abia South, Erondu Jnr, lawmaker representing Obingwa West State Constituency in the Abia House of Assembly, emerged victorious after securing a commanding lead across the six LGAs.
The final results were announced at the APC Abia South Senatorial District Primary Election Collation Centre in Aba by Collation Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Agbaeze.
Erondu Jnr swept all six LGAs to defeat Dr. Nyerere Anyim, Chief Paul Ikonne, and Dr. Blessing Nwagba.
Speaking at the party secretariat in Umuahia, an elated Erondu Jnr thanked God for his victory and described the primaries as a tough but credible contest.
“Today witnessed the freest and fairest primaries ever conducted by the APC in this state. It was very transparent because the party adopted the direct primary method,” he said.
Also, former governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday, secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Delta North ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okowa defeated incumbent senator, Sen. Ned Nwoko, and Dr Maryam Ali during the party’s primary election conducted across the district’s nine local government areas.
Announcing the results, the APC Returning Officer, Prof. Johnbull Tonukari, declared Okowa winner after polling 113,309 votes in the exercise.
Tonukari said Nwoko secured 2,612 votes, while Ali polled 40 votes in the primary election conducted peacefully across the senatorial district.
He said three aspirants contested the ticket, namely Okowa, Nwoko and Ali, with delegates voting across the nine councils in Delta North.
According to him, Okowa dominated the contest from the opening stages and maintained substantial leads across nearly all the local government areas announced.
“In Ndokwa East LGA, Okowa polled 9,436 votes, while Nwoko secured 79 votes and Ali recorded 15 votes,” Tonukari stated.
He said the former governor also won convincingly in Ika South, polling 9,763 votes against Nwoko’s 19 votes, while Ali failed to secure any vote.
Tonukari added that Okowa maintained his lead in Oshimili North Local Government Area after polling 13,110 votes during the exercise.
He said Nwoko recorded 287 votes in Oshimili North, while Ali again failed to secure any vote in the council area.
“In Ukwuani LGA, Okowa polled 12,167 votes, while Nwoko recorded 105 votes and Ali scored no vote,” the returning officer said.
Tonukari disclosed that Okowa also defeated Nwoko in the incumbent senator’s local government area during the primary election.
He said Okowa polled 5,480 votes in the council, while Nwoko secured 1,343 votes in what party members described as a major upset.
The returning officer further stated that Okowa extended his dominance in Aniocha South and Oshimili South local government areas.
According to him, Okowa secured 10,353 votes in Aniocha South and 11,616 votes in Oshimili South during the primary contest.
He said Nwoko polled 168 votes in Aniocha South and recorded 74 votes in Oshimili South, while Ali failed to make significant impact.
“In Ika North East LGA, Okowa polled 26,185 votes, while Nwoko scored 24 votes and Ali recorded no vote,” Tonukari added.
He also announced that Okowa secured 15,199 votes in Ndokwa West to defeat Nwoko, who polled 513 votes in the council.
Tonukari said Ali again failed to secure any vote in Ndokwa West during the senatorial primary election.
Following the announcement, APC National Working Committee leader in Delta State, Mr Eugene Odo, formally declared Okowa winner of the primary election.
Odo said the exercise was peaceful, transparent and credible, adding that party members conducted themselves responsibly throughout the process.
“Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa is hereby declared winner, having scored the highest lawful votes cast in this peaceful and credible primary election,” he said.
Some party members described the primary as orderly and largely violence-free across the district.
They commended party officials and security personnel for ensuring smooth coordination of the exercise in the various local government areas.
Also, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, on Monday, secured the All Progressives Congress senatorial ticket for Sokoto North.
This paved the way for him to seek a fourth term in the Senate during the 2027 general election.
Wamakko, a former governor of Sokoto State, emerged unopposed through an affirmation process conducted by APC members from the eight local government areas of the senatorial district.
Speaking after his affirmation, he expressed appreciation to party members for the confidence reposed in him.
He described the exercise as a major milestone in the political history of Sokoto State and Nigeria at large.
He expressed satisfaction with the growing support enjoyed by the APC across the country, stressing that he remained committed to serving the people.
Wamakko commended the peaceful conduct of the primary elections across the state.
He said the exercise demonstrated the party’s commitment to unity and internal democracy, urging other states to emulate Sokoto State.
“For all of us aspiring to lead under the APC platform, we must remember that leadership is about service to humanity and the electorate, not the acquisition of wealth,” he cautioned.
Wamakko also commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for their continued commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Earlier, APC national delegation leader, Hadi Ukhashatu, said the affirmation process was conducted in line with the party’s constitutional provisions, which allow for elections, consensus, or affirmation of candidates.
Ukhashatu praised APC members in Sokoto State for the peaceful conduct displayed throughout the exercise.
In a related development, the APC senatorial tickets for Sokoto South and Sokoto East were secured by Danbaba Dambuwa and Umar Ajiya, respectively.
Dambuwa, who lost to Sen. Aminu Tambuwal of the ADC in the 2023 election, is seeking a return to the Senate for a third term if elected in 2027.
Meanwhile, Ajiya will be contesting for the senate seat for the first time in the 2027 general election.
Sen. Shehu Sani emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
Sani defeated former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, and another aspirant, Shettima, in the APC senatorial primary conducted on Monday.
Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Sameera Ibrahim, said Shehu Sani polled 9,105 votes to secure the APC ticket for Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
According to Ibrahim, Zailani secured 1,021 votes, while Shettima garnered 1,253 votes.
She described the exercise as peaceful and transparent, commending party delegates and officials for their orderly conduct during the election.
The victory marks a major political comeback for Shehu Sani, who previously represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly and is widely known for his activism and outspoken views on governance, democracy and social justice.
Political observers described the outcome as a significant development within the APC in Kaduna State ahead of the general elections, considering the calibre of aspirants involved in the contest.
Supporters of the former senator celebrated the victory shortly after the announcement of the results, expressing confidence in his chances at the general election.
Meanwhile, Senator Idiat Adebule has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Lagos West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adebule, the incumbent senator representing Lagos West, was affirmed unopposed during the APC senatorial primary held at Agege Stadium in Lagos.
She secured affirmation votes from delegates and party members across the 11 wards in Agege Local Government Area.
Speaking after the exercise, the Returning Officer for the primary election, Mr Olugbenga Nola, said Adebule emerged through the APC direct primary system as the sole aspirant for the senatorial ticket.
According to him, the process was peaceful, transparent and reflected unity within the party.
Also speaking, former Chairman of Agege Local Government, Mr Ganiyu Egunjobi, commended party members and constituents for the orderly conduct of the exercise.
Egunjobi, who is also contesting for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat for Agege Constituency I, described Adebule’s emergence as a sign of peaceful coexistence among APC members in the area.
“Agege is like one big political family, and that is why our primary elections have been peaceful and successful.
“We congratulate Senator Adebule on her emergence and wish her success in the general elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, APC stakeholders in the district said the primary reflected unity, internal consensus and strong grassroots mobilisation within the district.
A member representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency, Mr Benjamin Olabinjo, commended party members for participating peacefully in the exercise and urged them to sustain the same conduct during future party primaries.
He said the process was smooth due to consensus arrangements within the party, noting that the absence of opposition contributed to the orderly conduct of the exercise.
Also, the Executive Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs Adenike Rosiji, said the peaceful atmosphere reflected the level of acceptance enjoyed by the senatorial candidate within the party.
Rosiji, a lawyer, said the absence of opposition followed extensive consultations and internal engagement that strengthened unity within the district.
Another stakeholder, the Deputy Chairman of APC in Ifako-Ijaiye, Mr Gbenga Agoye, who monitored the accreditation process, said officials ensured compliance with due process during the exercise.
He said accreditation and counting were conducted in line with laid-down procedures.
The APC primary recorded a large turnout of delegates and party supporters at Agege Stadium, with security personnel also present at the venue.
Senator Sunday Katung has emerged as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kaduna South Senatorial District ahead of 2027 National Assembly elections.
Katung, incumbent senator, secured ticket after defeating Danjuma La’ah and Michael Auta in primary conducted across 87 wards in eight local government areas.
Chief Returning Officer, John La’ah, on Monday declared Katung winner after collation of results, following APC primary exercise across Kaduna South Senatorial District.
He announced Katung scored 7,513 votes, La’ah polled 1,370 votes, while Auta garnered 878 votes in the keenly contested exercise.
John La’ah said: “Katung emerged with highest votes reflecting strong support across wards and LGAs in Kaduna South.”
Katung described his victory as a mandate for unity, progress and inclusive development across Kaduna South Senatorial District going forward.
Both Danjuma La’ah and Auta acknowledged outcome, calling for party cohesion after the closely contested primary.
The Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the primary across the district ensuring compliance with electoral guidelines.
APC officials praised peaceful conduct of the exercise across 87 wards and eight local government areas of Kaduna South.
Dr Ameh Erico emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kogi East Senatorial District after a landslide primary victory.
Erico secured 73,317 votes in the primary election conducted across the district, defeating six other aspirants cleared by the party before the exercise.
The returning officer, Mr Thomas Offors, announced the result at the collation centre in Idah on Monday.
Offors said Erico polled 73,317 votes, while Tim Nda-Diche from Bassa Local Government Area finished second with 3,238 votes.
He added that other aspirants recorded lower figures during the exercise conducted across the nine local government areas in Kogi East.
According to him, Okutepa Dalandi secured 85 votes, Jibrin Echocho scored 51 votes, while Akor Kashim received 43 votes.
Muri Ajaka polled three votes, while Dr Muhammed Bala Alfa recorded two votes in the keenly contested primary election.
“The remaining five aspirants recorded significantly lower figures,” Offors said while presenting the official results at the collation centre.
He described the exercise as peaceful, orderly and transparent, noting that party members participated massively across the senatorial district.
Offors said all seven aspirants were screened and cleared by the party ahead of the primary election.
With the victory, Erico has now secured the APC ticket for the 2027 general elections in Kogi East Senatorial District.
He is expected to begin consultations and political mobilisation across the district in the coming weeks ahead of the general elections.
