The race for the 11th Senate has reached a fever pitch within the All Progressives Congress as nearly 90 serving senators, nine incumbent governors, and a sitting deputy governor prepare for a grueling electoral battle. Investigations have revealed that the path to the red chamber is fraught with complications after the party’s leadership moved to curtail the influence of state executives over the nomination process. In a significant shift from previous cycles, many of these heavyweights are now expected to test their popularity through direct primaries rather than the more controlled consensus method favored by some state governors.
The shift toward direct primaries was reportedly influenced by the Presidential Supervision Team, which took a strict cue from Section 87(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. This specific provision mandates that where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for a consensus candidate, it must revert to a direct primary to determine the nominee. With stakeholders across several key states rejecting the pre-arranged consensus deals, the APC leadership has stepped in to prevent governors from interfering, effectively leveling the playing field for challengers and incumbents alike.
Flash points identified by the Presidential Supervision Team include Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, and Kano states, where internal rivalries have made consensus impossible. The governors currently aspiring to transition to the Senate include Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and Baba Gana Zulum (Borno). Additionally, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the outgoing Deputy Governor of Ogun State, has joined the fray, seeking to represent Ogun West.
The political landscape in these states suggests that the road to victory will be anything but smooth. In Ogun East, Governor Dapo Abiodun is set for a monumental clash with Senator Gbenga Daniel during the primaries. In Gombe, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya faces a formidable lineup that includes his predecessor, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, as well as the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Usman Bayero Nafada of the NDC, and Mustapha Mohammed Aliyu of the ADC.
In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRazaq is preparing for a straightforward but high-stakes contest against a candidate expected to be backed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki. Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa faces a two-front war. First, he must defeat Silas Agara, the former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, in the primaries for Nasarawa North. Should he succeed, he will likely face ex-Minister of Information Labaran Maku of the Social Democratic Party in the general election. Insiders note that Governor Sule faces additional demographic challenges, as he hails from a minority tribe in a district dominated by the Nasarawa-Eggon people.
Perhaps the most contentious senatorial bid is that of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma. His ambition has reportedly sent shockwaves through the APC, primarily because he appears to be seeking to hold two elective offices simultaneously while positioning himself for the Senate Presidency. Sources indicate that this "audacious" ambition triggered a failed attempt by his colleagues to remove him as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.
Fellow governors reportedly feel Uzodimma is overstretching his luck by serving as a sitting governor, PGF Chairman, and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors while simultaneously campaigning for a Senate seat. Intelligence reports have even surfaced suggesting a complex plot involving the forced resignation of his deputy to clear a path for his eventual transition to the Senate, with plans to install an amenable successor in the Imo State Government House. This perceived power grab has allegedly caused friction with current Senate President Godswill Akpabio, leading to attempts to adjust Senate rules to curb such ambitions.
Despite the turbulence surrounding Uzodimma, there are indications of stability at the top of the National Assembly leadership. Sources suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a "continuity assurance" to Senate President Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. In a show of alignment with the President’s team, Speaker Abbas reportedly dropped his own senatorial aspiration in Kaduna North to make way for ex-Governor Ramalan Yero.
The list of 90 senators seeking reelection is diverse, cutting across various parties including the APC, ADC, Labour Party, NDC, and PDP. Prominent names in this group include Lagos senators Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun, and Adetokunbo Abiru. Others facing tough reelection bids include Danjuma Goje, Adamu Aliero, and Ahmad Lawan. As the screening process in Abuja concludes, the focus shifts to the field, where the direct primary system will determine which of these political giants survives the internal purge to face the electorate in 2027.
With the APC leadership and the Presidential Supervision Team enforcing direct primaries in states where consensus failed, do you think this move toward internal democracy will ultimately strengthen the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections, or will the resulting friction between governors and the national headquarters lead to damaging defections?
