APC Names Governorship Candidates Across Multiple Nigerian States

The All Progressives Congress (APC) held a series of governorship primaries between May 21 and May 23, 2026, to determine its candidates for the 2027 general elections. Incumbents secured nominations in several states, including Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna, who ran unopposed with 459,393 votes, and Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River, who also ran unopposed, receiving 116,038 votes.

In Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia won the nomination with 367,786 votes, signaling a consolidation of power over rival factions led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume. Meanwhile, in Rivers State, former Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda emerged as the sole candidate with 268,497 votes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other aspirants withdrew.

Contested primaries occurred in Kwara and Bauchi. In Kwara, Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu won with 94,990 votes following a shift in support from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. The process was marked by reports of unrest and the besieging of the APC secretariat in Ilorin. In Bauchi, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar won the APC ticket with 57,517 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) affirmed former senator Halliru Dauda Jika as its sole candidate.

Disputes emerged in Oyo State, where the APC dismissed viral social media reports claiming a landslide victory for Senator Sharafadeen Alli, stating that only the National Secretariat is authorized to release official results.