APC Uploads 27 Governorship Candidates To INEC, Resolves Disputes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and running mates for 27 states to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signalling the resolution of most disputes arising from its governorship primaries.

Only one state in the Northeast is yet to be completed, with party leaders expected to finalise the choice of a deputy governorship candidate at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.

Among the candidates whose names have been submitted are Senator Sharafadeen Alli for Oyo State, House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu for Kwara, former PTDF Executive Secretary Ahmed Tijani Galadima for Adamawa, and former Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar for Bauchi.

The four states witnessed some of the fiercest contests during the APC primaries, with aggrieved aspirants protesting the outcomes.

In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s backing of Danladi generated opposition from several aspirants, including Senators Salihu Mustapha and Oyelola Ashiru, as well as Umar Sadiq Suleiman.

Bauchi also experienced internal divisions after Mohammed Abubakar emerged as the party’s flag bearer.

The dispute led Senator Shehu Umar Buba to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the APC deputy chairman in the state, Ibrahim Misau, also left the party with several supporters.

In Adamawa, however, party leaders appear to have reconciled after Galadima secured the ticket despite reports of rivalry between Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu over the nomination.

In Oyo State, former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, who challenged the primary outcome, had maintained that he would seek redress through the party’s appeal process.

However, the APC has now formally submitted Senator Alli’s name, alongside his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji, to INEC.

A party official, who declined to be named, said the only outstanding issue concerns the nomination of a deputy governorship candidate in one Northeast state, adding that it would be resolved before the deadline.

The source also disclosed that about 60 per cent of the APC’s House of Assembly candidates have been uploaded to the INEC portal.

Political parties have until August 8 to submit the names of their governorship and House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.