APC Primaries: Incumbents Retain Seats Amid Major Upsets Across Nigeria

The All Progressives Congress conducted primary elections across Nigeria on May 18, 2026, producing a mix of incumbent retentions and significant upsets ahead of the 2027 general elections. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele secured his return ticket for the Ekiti Central Senatorial district unopposed through affirmation across five local government areas.

In Delta State, two senatorial primaries yielded decisive outcomes. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege declared victory in the Delta Central Senate primary, claiming wins across all 85 wards in eight local government areas. He framed the results as an endorsement of his mission to deliver the district for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the general election, while awaiting official declaration from APC National Headquarters in Abuja. In Delta South, incumbent Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas defeated his sole challenger, Hon. Michael Diden, polling 87,805 votes to Diden's 30,794. Thomas won seven of eight local government areas, with Diden carrying only Warri North.

In Lagos, Senator Idiat Adebule secured the Lagos West senatorial ticket unopposed during a direct primary at Agege Stadium, with the Returning Officer attributing the lack of opposition to internal consensus and grassroots mobilization.

However, several long-serving lawmakers lost their return bids. In Jigawa, four-term House of Representatives member Sa'idu Yusuf Miga was defeated following youth protests over poor representation. Other incumbents who lost their tickets in Jigawa include Muktar Muhammad, Ibrahim Usman Auyo, and Sa'adu Wada Taura. In Imo, four serving House members also failed to retain their tickets. The APC named Umar Imam as the new candidate for the Jahun/Miga constituency.