APC Governorship Primaries Sweep Seven States, Hamzat Wins Lagos

The All Progressives Congress conducted governorship primary elections across seven Nigerian states on May 21, 2026, producing candidates for the 2027 general elections in a largely peaceful exercise marked by consensus endorsements and dominant victories.

In Lagos State, Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat won the APC governorship primary with 657,917 votes, defeating rival Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal who received one vote. Hamzat's candidacy was endorsed by President Bola Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council, prompting other aspirants to withdraw. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in Hamzat's capacity to sustain the administration's development agenda.

In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori secured the party ticket unopposed with 345,375 votes across 270 wards, while in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani won 459,393 affirmation votes as the sole aspirant. In Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola emerged as the consensus governorship candidate with 304,055 votes. Governor Dapo Abiodun described the peaceful primary as unprecedented in the state's 50-year history.

In Gombe State, Jamilu Ishiaku Gwamna won the governorship primary with 247,161 votes, defeating former ministers Isa Ali Pantami and Saidu Ahmed Alkali, who both submitted withdrawal letters after voting had begun. Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno also emerged as the consensus candidate, announcing plans for a second-term blueprint called ARISE 2.0.

In the Delta North senatorial primary, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa defeated incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko with 113,309 votes to 2,612. State Assembly primaries in Kaduna and Lagos also produced winners, including Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda in Lagos's Apapa Constituency I. Party officials across all states characterized the exercises as peaceful, transparent, and compliant with electoral guidelines.