Breaking: INEC Uploads Alli, Hamzat, Yayai Others As APC Guber Candidate On Portal Ahead Of 2027 Election
By Aliyu Oyewole
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved internal disputes arising from its governorship primaries in several states and uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and running mates in 27 states to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal ahead of the statutory deadline.
Party sources disclosed that only one Northeast state remains outstanding due to unresolved consultations over the selection of a deputy governorship candidate. A stakeholders’ meeting scheduled in Abuja is expected to conclude the process.
The development means the APC has substantially completed its preparations for the governorship elections, which will hold in 28 states, while also progressing with the upload of House of Assembly candidates.
Among the governorship candidates whose details have been submitted are:
- Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos)
- Solomon Adeola (Ogun)
- Kingsley Chinda (Rivers)
- Eric Opah (Abia)
- Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi)
- Mustapha Gubio (Borno)
- Jamilu Gwamna (Gombe)
- Aliyu Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa)
- Baba Malam Wali (Yobe)
- Hyacinth Alia (Benue)
- Bassey Otu (Cross River)
- Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta)
- Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi)
- Peter Mbah (Enugu)
- Umar Namadi (Jigawa)
- Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano)
- Dikko Radda (Katsina)
- Umar Bago (Niger)
- Nasir Idris (Kebbi)
- Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau)
- Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom)
- Dauda Lawal (Zamfara)
- Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto)
The party also confirmed the submission of House Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as its governorship candidate in Kwara, Senator Sharafadeen Alli in Oyo with Adesoji Adedeji as running mate, Ahmed Tijani Galadima in Adamawa, and former Governor Mohammed Abubakar in Bauchi.
These four states witnessed some of the fiercest primary contests within the APC, with aggrieved aspirants initially rejecting the outcomes.
In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s endorsement of Yakubu Danladi Salihu generated opposition from several leading aspirants, including Senators Salihu Mustapha, Oyelola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq Suleiman.
Bauchi experienced prolonged internal disagreements after Mohammed Abubakar emerged as the party’s candidate, leading to the defection of Senator Shehu Umar Buba to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside several party officials in Misau Local Government Area.
In Adamawa, the contest reflected political differences between Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu over the choice of candidate. However, party leaders have since rallied behind Ahmed Tijani Galadima.
Similarly, in Oyo State, former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu challenged the outcome of the governorship primary before eventually accepting the party’s decision after Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s candidacy was officially processed.
A member of the APC vetting committee, who spoke anonymously, said the party had made significant progress in completing the upload process.
According to the source, only the selection of a deputy governorship candidate in one Northeast state remains unresolved, adding that the issue would be concluded after consultations with stakeholders.
The source also disclosed that about 60 per cent of the APC’s House of Assembly candidates have already been uploaded to the party’s portal ahead of the August 8 deadline set by INEC for submission of governorship and state assembly candidates.
