National Politics

APC Primaries: Heavyweights Secure Senate Tickets as Omo-Agege, Okorocha, Nwoko Lose Out

2 hours ago
Usman Ishaq Shehu
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A number of serving senators and prominent political figures have secured tickets to contest for seats in the 11th Senate following the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries held across the country.

The shadow elections, conducted across the 109 senatorial districts, produced both surprises and expected outcomes, with several political heavyweights emerging victorious while others suffered major defeats.

Among those who failed to secure tickets are former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Ned Nwoko, and Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who were all floored in their respective contests.

In contrast, return tickets were secured by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, alongside several other incumbent lawmakers.

Also making a return to the Senate race are former governors and ex-senators, including former Vice President Ifeanyi Okowa, former Interior Minister Ibrahim Shekarau, and former Senator Shehu Sani, who all received the party’s nod in their districts.

The APC, which currently controls a majority of states and holds significant influence in the National Assembly, conducted the second phase of its primaries to determine candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Provisional results indicate that several sitting governors also secured senatorial tickets, including AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara Central), Hope Uzodimma (Imo West), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun East), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe East), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe North), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa North).

In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun emerged as the sole candidate after his challenger, Senator Gbenga Daniel, boycotted the exercise.

While consensus arrangements were reached in some districts, many others went through competitive direct primaries after initial agreements collapsed.

Party officials say the results are still subject to ratification by the APC National Working Committee (NWC), even as the primaries have already reshaped the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.