May 18, (THEWILL) — A wave of high-profile victories marked the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries across several states on Monday, as governors, former governors, and ranking lawmakers secured tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma clinched the APC ticket for Imo West Senatorial District after defeating former governor Rochas Okorocha in the party’s primary election.
The APC primaries across the state’s three senatorial zones also produced businessman Alex Mbata as the party’s candidate for Owerri Zone, while incumbent Senator Patrick Ndubueze retained the ticket for Okigwe zone.
Former Senator Ifeanyi Ararume was reported to have stepped down in support of Ndubueze ahead of the exercise.
Speaking after voting at Omuma ward during the Imo West primary, Uzodimma described the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and reflective of the APC’s growing popularity in the state.
He commended party members for their active participation and described the direct primary model as one of the freest and fairest electoral processes in the country.
The governor expressed confidence in the APC’s strength ahead of the 2027 elections and projected victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential poll, citing the turnout recorded during the primaries as evidence of the party’s growing support base.
In Delta State, Senator Ede Dafinone emerged victorious in the APC Delta Central Senatorial District primary election, defeating former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, by a wide margin.
According to the official results announced by the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, Dafinone polled 116,252 votes, while Omo-Agege secured 3,643 votes.
The results were collated by Hon. Dr Okiemute E. Benjamin and announced at the collation centre in Ughelli by Barrister Nusa Amagbor, Secretary of the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, with support from committee member, Abimbola Samuel Dart.
Announcing the outcome, Amagbor stated that Dafinone overwhelmingly won the exercise after securing the majority of votes cast during the primary election.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Orji Uzor Kalu, won the APC senatorial primary for Abia North Senatorial District in a landslide.
The former Abia State governor defeated his lone challenger, Philip Nto, after polling 65,651 votes against 2,103 votes.
According to figures released by the APC Primary Election Committee, the direct primary election was conducted across the five local government areas and 57 wards of the senatorial district with massive participation by party members.
Chairman of the Abia North Senatorial National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Mr Chinedu Christian Kanu, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and credible.
Kalu later commended party members, stakeholders, and electoral officials for ensuring a smooth process, stressing that fairness and credibility were upheld throughout the exercise.
The victory has now cleared the path for Kalu’s re-election bid in the February 2027 National Assembly elections.
Also in Katsina State, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Nasir Yahaya-Daura, emerged winner of the APC primary election for the Daura Senatorial Zone.
Yahaya-Daura polled 78,394 votes to defeat Ahmed Kabir, who secured 2,274 votes, according to results announced by Dr Yakubu Maccido, the party’s representative from the APC national headquarters.
Similarly, Muntari Dandutse and Abdul’aziz Musa-Yar’adua secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements adopted by the party.
The outcomes of the APC senatorial primaries across Imo, Delta, Abia, Ogun, Kogi, and Katsina states underscore the party’s growing momentum and strategic preparations for the 2027 general elections as it consolidates its structures and positions prominent political figures for key National Assembly contests nationwide.
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