Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s remarks, meant to comfort serving senators who lost tickets in the recently concluded party primaries, have caused anxiety among victorious aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The aspirants are worried that even if they win their primaries, the outcome could be changed in favour of the colleagues of the senate president who are incumbent senators.

Most of those raising concerns are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who fear Akpabio could use his clout within the party to secure tickets for some defeated lawmakers.

Akpabio, in his welcome address after the Senate resumed from a three-week recess, had told senators who could not secure their party tickets that the leadership of the National Assembly was still working to resolve the situation.

He congratulated successful lawmakers across party lines but lamented on the number of defeats recorded during the primaries.

“I congratulate the political parties, one or two of which have emanated from these chambers. They just finished their primaries and all their internal democratic processes. I extend my congratulations especially to those who have won their mandates to represent their parties to the next general elections.

“In this Senate we were promised we’d have very few disappointments. I do know the Senate Leader and the rest of the leadership are working very hard to address these issues. “So, in advance, congratulations to all of us, across party lines.”

After the remarks, Akpabio took senators into a closed-door executive session that lasted more than two hours.

Senators meet Tinubu, Akpabio
Daily Trust also learnt that Akpabio and other principal officers of the Senate had a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Details of the meeting were not disclosed but insiders said the talks centered on possible options for some sitting senators who lost their primaries.

The Senate leadership had said before the recess that in a number of states lawmakers would be given automatic return tickets or consensus arrangements.

But only Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West) and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) received automatic tickets.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, the three senators from Borno State and senators from Lagos State secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements.

40 Senators lose their tickets
According to the results announced by the party, 60 of the 105 incumbent senators were given return tickets while about 40 lost their bids.

Others who lost include Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, Jibrin Isah, Gbenga Daniel, Ned Nwoko, Abbas Aminu Iya, Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, Titus Zam, Emmanuel Udende, William Eteng Jonah, Neda Imasuen, Danjuma Goje, Francis Ezenwa, Musa Garba, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, Diket Plang and Ipalibo Harry Banigo.

Some senators lost after running in their state’s primaries for governor.

They are Saliu Mustapha, Abdulfatai Buhari, Shehu Buba and Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi.

Some APC primaries winners have also raised concern over the delay in the issuance of Certificates of Return.

The delay could be part of efforts to manipulate the final list of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, they said.

An anonymous successful aspirant from Kwara State said those who defeated incumbent lawmakers were becoming increasingly suspicious.

She said, “We are now suspicious of the games played by the national leadership of the party, some of us who defeated incumbent legislators at both state and national levels.

“We were told that the President is coming in to manage any crisis that might come up after the final results are out. “We’ve been worried about that ever since.”

Another successful aspirant, from Gombe State, said Akpabio’s comments needed clarification.

We cannot comment on the statement now, it is not clear. We are trying to seek clarification before we react,” he said.

APC Aites Appeal Procedure
But party officials said the delay was consistent with established procedures.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party’s primary guidelines stipulated the correct gathering of results and the settling of appeals before the winners are officially announced, said media aide Abimbola Tooki.

“The guidelines given for the conduct of the primaries were very clear and unambiguous. The results from the different levels were to be collated properly, the formal declaration of winners would only come after the appeal processes have been concluded,” Said Tooki.

He added aggrieved aspirants had the right to seek redress through party’s appeal mechanism.

But some aspirants argued that the delay had only further deepened fears that the outcome of the primaries could still be altered administratively.

They also observed that President Tinubu had been issued with his Certificate of Return immediately after winning the APC presidential primary, whereas many other winning aspirants were still waiting.

“The President has been given his Certificate of Return so why should the others be delayed? One candidate said: “The party should not give the impression that some candidates are more valid than others.”

The post Akpabio’s Plan to Support Defeated Lawmakers Sparks Tension Among APC Primary Winners appeared first on TheNigerian.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his emergence as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s presidential primary election on Saturday.

The governor said the president’s victory was a historic political moment which further confirms his towering influence in the Nigerian political space and the overwhelming confidence reposed in him by millions of party faithful and progressive-minded Nigerians across the federation.
“It is comforting to know that for almost four decades, you have painstakingly built an impregnable political fortress across the six geopolitical zones of the country, nurturing leaders, strengthening democratic institutions and redefining political organisation in Nigeria with uncommon courage, strategy and consistency.”

Mr President, you remain one of the few political figures whose sacrifices in the fight for democracy have continued to mould the destiny of modern Nigeria. I remember with historical facts that you stood firmly on the side of democratic freedom during some of the nation’s most turbulent political periods.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you are not just a politician, you are a movement, a national institution and a shining example of political resilience whose name is eternally written in the annals of the history of democratic governance in Nigeria. “Future generations will remember you as the political icon who gave his life to building bridges of unity, empowering leaders and keeping the spirit of democracy alive,” he said.

Nwifuru said the APC presidential primary election was a clear demonstration of the appreciation of the people of Ebonyi State of the visionary leadership and commitment of the president to national development as they all voted unanimously and stood solidly behind him in the thirteen local government areas of the state.
Meanwhile, Tinubu won all the 13 local government areas of the state in the primary.

The APC recorded a total of 215,490 votes while 207,579 members were accredited, the state collation officer, Governor Francis Nwifuru, announced the results in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Saturday evening.

The results showed that Tinubu got 207,579 votes, all valid votes in the primary.

His closest rival, Stanley Osiofor, got no votes at all in any of the local government areas.

A breakdown of the results showed that Tinubu got 15,673 in Abakaliki; 10,718 in Afikpo North; 10,713 in Ohaozara; 16,413 in Ebonyi; 11,694 in Edda; 11,928 in Ohaukwu; 19,088 in Ezza South; 19,341 in Ikwo; 17,501 in Izzi; 8,406 in Ivo; 19,160 in Ishielu; 25,453 in Ezza North; 18,300 in Afikpo; and 13,896 in Onicha Local Government Areas.

Nwifuru described the result as a true and accurate record of the results collated from all the local government areas in the state.

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The Kwara North Traditional Rulers Council has commended President Bola Tinubu, Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national and state levels for founding Kwara North worthy to produce the next governor of the state.

In the same vein, Kwara North community leaders and elders have also expressed their appreciation to Tinubu, AbdulRazaq and other stakeholders for making their son, Engr Yakubu Danladi-Salihu emerge as the APC gubernatorial candidate in the Friday primary election.

The Etsu Patigi, Alh Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, who made the statement on behalf of the traditional council, described the development as historic milestone and a clear demonstration of fairness, inclusiveness, equity and political balance in the state.

The respected monarch said the decision to back the aspiration of Kwara North was a reflection of the commitment of the leadership to justice, unity and peaceful co-existence among the different regions of the state.

He said the gesture has rekindled hope, strengthened political harmony and further deepened the confidence of the people of Kwara North in the leadership of the APC at both the state and national levels.

He commended AbdulRazaq for his statesmanship, political maturity and doggedness to fairness and equity, adding that he is a leader whose administration continues to promote unity, peace and sustainable development in the state.

He also lauded President Tinubu and the leadership of the APC for listening to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Kwara North, noting that the actualisation of the long agitation for power shift to the district would remain a memorable and commendable feat in the political history of the state.

He reaffirmed the monarchs’ backing for peace, unity and democratic growth, just as he prayed God to give Tinubu, AbdulRazaq and all APC leaders wisdom and divine guidance in the performance of their duties to the nation and the people of Kwara State.

We are grateful to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, APC National leadership, State Executives, party leaders and stakeholders for believing in the people of Kwara North and making our long awaited aspiration a reality. “We pray Almighty Allah continues to guide, protect and bless them with wisdom and success as they continue to serve the people,” the monarch’s statement said.

In their remarks and a statement signed by the former minister of sports, Hon. Isa Bio Ibrahim, the Kwara North elders and leaders commended Tinubu and AbdulRazaq for making their people have a sense of belonging through the emergence of Danladi-Salihu as the APC gubernatorial candidate.

“We the good people of Kwara North are most grateful to Governor AbdulRazaq and President Tinubu for honouring and accepting one of us, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi from Baruten LGA of Kwara North to succeed Your Excellency.

We thank you for your sincere leadership and the overwhelming support you gave to all aspirants which ultimately resulted in the victory of Kwara North in the APC primaries. Glory to Allah (SWT) and your humble self for the confidence and trust sir . We shall never let you down. For this trust we shall ever be grateful and true to you.” You have proved yourself a man of honour, equity, fairness and justice and your name shall go down in gold in the history of Kwara State.

We salute Your Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Tinubu on behalf of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi, the entire Kwara North and indeed the APC family of Kwara State. “In Kwara State, we have been fatherless but now you are our father. Kwara North will reciprocate this magnanimity by voting massively for APC in 2027,”, Ibrahim said.

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President Bola Tinubu has won the All Progressives Congress presidential primary election in Gombe State by a wide margin, scoring 450,517 votes.

Stanley Osifo, Tinubu’s only opponent in the exercise, did not get a vote in any of the 11 local government areas of the state.

The results were announced at APC Square by the exercise co-ordinator and Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.

Yahaya said the figures were submitted by the primary election collation officers in the 11 local government areas.

Addressing party officials, stakeholders and supporters during the collation exercise, the governor said the primary was peaceful and in accordance with the guidelines of the party.

He said the results from Gombe State would be sent to Abuja for final collation and official declaration by the APC national leadership.

The breakdown of the results showed that Tinubu polled 5,873 votes in Akko, 23,307 in Balanga and 23,675 in Billiri.

He won Dukku with 24,964 votes and Funakaye with 22,761 votes. Gombe Local Government Area delivered the highest number of votes to Tinubu with 112,414 votes.

Other results showed Tinubu got 22,998 votes in Kaltungo, 25,305 in Kwami and 21,388 in Nafada.

He polled 12,765 votes in Shongom and 75,067 votes in Yamaltu/Deba. Yahaya revealed that the state had 550,516 registered APC members.

He praised party officials, delegates and members for their peaceful behaviour and commitment to the democratic process.

The post Tinubu Dominates APC Primaries in Gombe With Massive 450,517 Votes, Osifo Gets Zero appeared first on TheNigerian.

Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti State, has said he would have been the President of Nigeria had he not stepped down for President Bola Tinubu in the run-up to the 2023 elections.

He made the statement in an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo.

The host had made the claim in a statement he directed at Fayemi during the interview and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain had said yes affirming the submission.
Fayemi also recently compared the attitude of former President, Goodluck Jonathan and President Bola Tinubu towards subsidy removal.
Fayemi, who spoke at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference in Abuja, was reported to have reflected on Nigeria’s economic policies, leadership values and the courage to make tough governance decisions.

According to Fayemi, Jonathan did not have the courage to implement the removal of the fuel subsidy, even when he had the support of key stakeholders at the time.

According to him, contrary to public opinion many of the governors in Jonathan’s administration including himself supported the removal of fuel subsidy but the then opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) opposed it politically.

But Fayemi said Jonathan succumbed to political pressure rather than standing his ground on what he believed was an economically sound policy.

Fayemi, who did not make the same mistake as Jonathan, praised Tinubu for the bold leadership to remove the fuel subsidy on the first day of his administration despite the economic and political backlash.

The post ‘I Would Have Become President of Nigeria If I Didn’t Step Down for Tinubu’ – Kayode Fayemi appeared first on TheNigerian.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that it will conduct a direct primary in 8,809 wards across the country on Saturday, May 23, to produce its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Senator Ajibola Basiru, the party’s National Secretary, was said to have announced this in an official notice released on Thursday night.

President Bola Tinubu will challenge Stanley Osifo for the party’s presidential ticket, the notice said.

The party will follow an inclusive process that will allow registered members to vote for their preferred aspirant, Basiru said.

“Every registered member of the party will be entitled to vote for the presidential aspirant of their choice in the 8,809 wards across the country,” Basiru said.

“The direct primary will be conducted in all the wards in the country and the results will be collated at the local government level.

“The direct primary will be held in each of the 8809 wards. The notice said that the results of each ward made up of the 774 Local Governments would be collated by the Local Government Collation Officer to be appointed by the State Coordinator and Collation Officer appointed by the National Working Committee.

Basiru said that the State Coordinators and Collation Officers appointed by the party would handle the organisation and conduct of the exercise in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He added that the state results would be submitted to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja on 24th May, 2026.

“The State Coordinator and Collation Officer shall be responsible for the organization and conduct of the direct primary in all the 36 States and the FCT. The notice added that they shall collate the results of all the local governments in the state and present same to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja, FCT on May 24, 2026.

The party said the exercise would be carried out in accordance with the operational guidelines earlier transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The APC said the guidelines were contained in a letter dated May 15, 2026, sent to the INEC.

The post Tinubu To Battle With Osifo For APC Presidential Ticket appeared first on TheNigerian.

Senior Special Assistant to the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman on Local Government Affairs, Norbert Sochukwudinma, has berated Delta North Senator, Ned Nwoko, over his outburst after losing the party’s return ticket.

Nwoko did not participate in the party but expected to win, Sochukwudinma said in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Wednesday.

Remember that Nwoko lost the primary election to the immediate past governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Meanwhile, Nwoko had alleged that the results of the APC primaries in the region were manipulated by the State Government, stating that he was the rightful winner of the primary election.

Reacting, Sochukwudinma said, “Nwoko shunned the party expecting to win.

“Anyone who wants to win an election has to deal with the party structures, but he did not consult the nine local government party chairmen or leaders.

“Only APC members who have their card are eligible to vote, and party politics is not show business.

“Based on the evidence on ground Senator Ned Nwoko was clearly defeated and some of the results circulating on the social media were doctored and not official.

“In fact I thought he would get under 2,000 votes.

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Eighty-five All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidates from Zamfara State who were rejected during the party’s screening process met with Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defense.

It is understood that Matawalle’s home in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, served as the meeting location.

In preparation for the 2027 general elections, it was called as part of the APC’s efforts at reconciliation.

Matawalle advised the candidates to maintain composure, unity, and dedication to the party’s advancement regardless of the results of the screening procedure.

He gave them the assurance that their problems had not been disregarded and that action was being taken to resolve them.

He claims that the APC is still a party that prioritizes justice, fairness, and equal opportunity for each and every one of its members.

In response to the aspirants’ concerns, Matawalle stated that the National Working Committee of the party was already examining petitions filed by members who felt wronged.

He urged the candidates to wait patiently and let the party leadership finish the procedure.

The former governor of Zamfara State stated that internal disputes shouldn’t be let to undermine the APC in the state, particularly as the 2027 election preparations gain traction.

He pointed out that for the party to succeed, member unity would be essential.

Sulaiman Shu’aibu Shinkafi headed the group of candidates, who thanked Matawalle for meeting them.

His action, they said, was an indication of his leadership and dedication to maintaining harmony within the party.

The group also praised the minister for what they described as his efforts to foster unity among APC members in Zamfara State.

In response, Matawalle praised the candidates for their behavior and determination to stick with the party despite their complaints.

Their unity and maturity, he said, were heartening.

According to the minister, their willingness to contribute to the APC’s triumph shown that they put the party’s interests ahead of their own disappointment.

Matawalle added that the federal government was stepping up its efforts to combat insecurity across the nation.

He especially cited banditry in the North-West and insurgency in the North-East as significant security issues that need to be addressed.

According to the minister, the government is still dedicated to bringing stability and peace back to the impacted neighborhoods.

The gathering was a component of continuing discussions meant to improve the APC’s internal unity in Zamfara State.

APC State Secretary Ibrahim Maigandi, APC Auditor Yusuf Idris Gusau, past Speakers of the Zamfara State House of Assembly Bature Umar Sambo and Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, and former Deputy Governor Mukhtar Ahmad Anka were also in attendance.

The gathering was attended by stakeholders from other parties.

The post Matawalle Meets 85 Zamfara APC Aspirants Disqualified From Primaries appeared first on TheNigerian.

Nentawe Yilwatda, the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has declared that the party is capable of resolving its disagreements.

Yilwatda’s remarks coincide with the APC’s current primaries-related concerns.

In an interview with reporters following his meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Wednesday, he said that the APC’s popularity throughout Nigeria made the party’s primaries the most contested in the nation’s history.

The APC Chairman claimed that the primaries were mostly peaceful and free of rancour while expressing gratitude to President Tinubu and members nationwide for their support.

“I also want to express my gratitude to our supporters for their methodical approach to these procedures. It’s well-organized, almost rancour-free, and has few complaints. Election-related complaints are common, but the process is almost flawless, he said.

“Our guidelines on consensus are clear,” he remarked in response to the disputes and controversies surrounding the consensus arrangements in certain jurisdictions. We also have clear policies regarding direct primaries. Direct primaries are used when reaching a consensus is ineffective. People in every state are acting in this manner.

Yilwatda added that the party had internal procedures to deal with post-primary disputes.

“After this primary election, there will undoubtedly be some disgruntled party members. Over time, our internal dispute resolution process has been successful.

The Presidential Conflict Resolution Committee is one of them. The Party Conflict Resolution Committee is one of them. “We manage people as much as we can, and the party itself has been working to reduce crisis,” he stated.

“The President was very impressed with the logistics we deployed across the country, the tactics we’ve used,” he added. The fact that there are fewer cases nationwide has also really impressed him. He is pleased with our work.

The chairman described the exercise as a logistical success and praised members for their discipline, which resulted in “limited conflicts” during the process. He said that the nationwide deployment of direct primaries this cycle was a significant step and indicated improvements in the party’s organizational capacity.

The post Yilwatda Says Tinubu Happy With APC Progress Amid Primary Fallout appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly primary poll in Surulere Constituency I in Lagos State.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday after participating in the primary election in Ward G2 (Adeniran Ogunsanya Ward 5), situated at Alaka Housing Estate, Surulere, Lagos, Gbajabiamila hailed the event as fair, peaceful and orderly.

He expressed delight with the conduct of the primaries, and thanked party members for their conduct during the procedure.

“You know, this is my ward, Ward G2, and I have been voting here in Ward G2 for as long as I have been in politics.

“And anytime I come to vote, whatever office or election it is, my reaction is always the same. When I observe peaceful, fair, credible, orderly elections, I am always quite happy.

“And that is exactly what I have seen today,” he remarked.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives also observed that the turnout for the primary election was excellent.

“The turnout, considering that we are talking about primaries here, has been very impressive. People have been peaceful and orderly.

“The election has been free and transparent, and I am happy to see that. So, I applaud the residents of Ward G2,” he said.

The presidential adviser noted that reports reaching him from other wards suggested that the exercise was calm across the area.

“From what I am hearing, the feedback I am getting, it is the same across the board,” he said.

His appraisal of the exercise followed Desmond Elliot’s disengagement from it.

The incumbent MP had cited intimidation and harassment of supporters as the cause for his retirement.

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