APC Consolidates Grip Ahead Of 2027 Governorship Elections As Governors, Loyalists Dominate Primaries

APC Consolidates Grip Ahead of 2027 Governorship Elections as Governors, Loyalists Dominate Primaries Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress APC has strengthened its political position ahead of the 2027 governorship elections after incumbent governors and their loyalists secured sweeping victories in party primaries across several states. The nationwide primaries, held amid intense internal negotiations and consensus arrangements, largely favored sitting governors seeking second terms as well as preferred successors backed by influential party leaders. In several APC controlled states, governors emerged through affirmation or consensus-backed processes with little or no opposition.

In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori secured the APC governorship ticket after receiving affirmation votes from more than 345,000 party members during the direct primary election. Oborevwori, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC, described the process as evidence of party unity ahead of 2027.

In Katsina State, Governor Dikko Radda was unanimously adopted as the APC governorship candidate during an affirmation exercise attended by delegates and party stakeholders. Party officials said the endorsement reflected consensus among major APC blocs in the state. Similarly, in Sokoto State, APC members affirmed Governor Ahmed Aliyu as the party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 governorship race.Beyond incumbents, candidates aligned with powerful APC figures also emerged victorious in multiple states.In Borno State, Mustapha Gubio became the APC governorship candidate after party stakeholders agreed on him as a consensus choice. Governor Babagana Zulum publicly praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima during the exercise, reinforcing the party’s message of unity. In Rivers State, candidates believed to be aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dominated APC legislative primaries, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who won the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency ticket.

Despite the party’s broad show of strength, tensions remain in several states where disputes over candidate imposition and consensus arrangements have generated backlash. In Oyo State, competing factions within the APC clashed over the outcome of primaries in Oluyole Federal Constituency, deepening an internal crisis among party leaders.In Plateau State, analysts warn that friction between longstanding APC loyalists and newer political entrants could threaten party cohesion ahead of 2027. The APC also postponed governorship primaries in Bauchi, Kwara, and Zamfara states to address logistical and political concerns.Ahead of the primaries, President Tinubu urged party members to avoid “do-or-die politics” and maintain peace throughout the nomination process.

The APC leadership initially pushed for consensus arrangements to reduce post-primary disputes, though resistance from some aspirants forced the party to permit more direct contests in certain states. Political observers say the primaries demonstrate the growing influence of incumbent governors and the Progressive Governors Forum in shaping APC structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.