Indications have emerged that no less than five All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are going to have fierce battles in their bids to return for second term.

This is despite preference by the APC to have the governorship candidates for the 2027 elected through consensus arrangements.

Our correspondents report that while those seeking second terms are mainly affected, those where the governors are exiting but have made known their choices of successors, have not been spared the hassles.

Investigations by our correspondents reveal that 13 of the second term governors may likely contest the party’s ticket unopposed as no one has picked the ticket to contest against them.

This will make their May 21 primaries mere affirmation.

The governors on the affirmation waiting list include: Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Umar Bago (Niger), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

A member of the screening committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the competition will be fiercest in Kwara State, which has the highest number of aspirants as 15 people jostle for the ticket in the state.

Other states with high-interest aspirants for governorship include Adamawa (8), Oyo and Yobe (6), Bauchi and Nasarawa (5), Abia and Taraba (4), Gombe while Borno and Ogun have two aspirants each.

APC governors likely to have a rough rides in their second term bids include that of Benue, Ebonyi; Jigawa, Taraba and Plateau.

In Benue, the lingering tiff between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the governor, Hyacinth Alia, is bound to affect the governor’s chances even when he clinches the APC ticket.

This is because many of those who are behind the SGF have left for other parties like Mathias Byuan, a former APC aspirant who defected to the Labour Party.

In Taraba, despite the right of first refusal reportedly given sitting governors especially governors that defected, three other persons have picked forms to run against the governor. They are Sabo Kente, Mustafa Jaji and former minister of power, Saleh Maman. The governor is insisting the primary should be through a consensus but it is yet to be resolved.

In plateau, Commander Yilchini Jan Bida, who hails from Kanke LGA in the state, has purchased a governorship nomination form and has been cleared by the screening committee despite the consensus arrangement.

Our correspondent gathered that the APC governorship aspirant has set up a campaign committee ahead of the primary election.

In Ebonyi tension appears to be brewing within the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following growing speculation of a political rift between Minister of Works, David Umahi, and his successor, Governor Francis Nwifuru, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The disagreement is believed to have stemmed from the governor’s reported adoption of a consensus arrangement for elective positions in the state, a move said to have sidelined some aspirants allegedly loyal to Umahi.

While Governor Nwifuru has publicly denied any fallout with the former governor, insisting that both leaders remain united for the progress of the party.

In Jigawa, a quiet political rift appears to be emerging between former Jigawa State governor and ex-Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and his successor, Umar Namadi, amid growing tensions within the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The disagreement is believed to be linked to internal party control, recent APC congresses, and the perceived marginalisation of political loyalists associated with Badaru in the current state political structure.

Although both camps have publicly denied any serious fallout, political observers say the relationship between the two leaders has become increasingly strained in recent months.

Analysts point to disagreements over party appointments, loyalty battles among supporters, and speculations surrounding Badaru’s political future after leaving the federal cabinet.

The situation was further fueled by reports of Badaru’s meetings with opposition figures and complaints from some of his loyalists over their diminishing influence in Jigawa APC politics.

However, recent developments including legislative probes into financial activities during Badaru’s administration and factional debates within the APC have continued to intensify speculation of a deeper political struggle over the future leadership of the party in Jigawa State.

Our correspondents report there are states where the governors are leaving but the bid to hand over to successors would not be so smooth.

They include states like Adamawa, kwara and Yobe.

For Adamawa though the state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is yet to make known his preferred candidate, there are indications that his interest may be clashing with that of security chief who is in Abuja but hails from the state.

The security chief is said to be supporting former PTDF executive secretary Ahmed Galadima Aminu for the post while Fintiri is backing former APC national vice chairman for northeast Comrade Mustapha Salihu.

The two leaders are reportedly using various strategies to outwit each other in the contest with the security chief using his influence in the national leadership of the party to support his candidate while Fintiri is allegedly using his control of state leadership of the party and state government to deliver the ticket to Comrade Salihu.

In Yobe, six governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State have rejected the reported adoption of former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

They are Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, Bashir Sheriff Machina, Kashim Musa Tumsah, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, Lawan Kolo Geidam and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Alkali Baba.

In Gombe, state governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya jumped over Prof. Isa Ali Pantami and Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali and other seven aspirants to pick Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, as his anointed candidate,

In Kwara, Senator Ibrahim, Yahaya Oloriegbe’ Senator Lola Ashiru; Senator Sadiq Umar; Prof Wale Sulieman; Aisha Ahman Patigi Muyideen Azeez Salako Yetunde Bello-Adebowale Mohammed Umar Bio are all interested in vying though the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrzaq ia said to be set to a pick a candidate.

‘APC should allow direct primaries in states’

A political analyst, Jide Ojo, has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow direct primaries in states where stakeholders are resisting automatic tickets for incumbent governors ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ojo, who spoke to our correspondent in an interview on Tuesday, said imposing consensus candidates on party members could deepen internal crises and weaken the ruling party’s chances in some states.

He said governors denied automatic tickets should be allowed to test their popularity through transparent primaries rather than being edged out through screening processes.

“If the stakeholders in those states do not agree to automatic tickets, then they should go for direct primaries,” he said.

The analyst noted that many governors joined or remained in the APC largely to secure second-term ambitions, adding that it was within their rights to seek re-election on platforms that could improve their chances.

According to him, the party should avoid forcing consensus arrangements on states where there are competing interests among aspirants and stakeholders.

“In several states, this consensus agreement is not going to work, and it is better for APC not to force consensus on any state,” he said.

Ojo warned against using party screening exercises to disqualify aspirants unfairly, saying such actions could hurt party cohesion.

“They should not try to screen out aspirants without due process because it will have a way of affecting the party,” he added.

He also questioned the electoral value of some incumbent governors, saying not all governors had strong performance records capable of attracting voters for the APC.

“Governors are actually the foot soldiers of the president in many of these states,” he said.

analyst cited the case of former Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who lost the APC governorship ticket despite being the incumbent.

According to him, the party allowed Ambode to participate in direct primaries instead of shutting him out.

“The party allowed him to participate and they did direct primaries. He came second to Sanwo-Olu even though he was a sitting governor,” Ojo said.

He said the example showed that aspirants should be allowed to test their popularity democratically rather than being excluded through internal arrangements.

Ojo also expressed concern over reports that loyalists of suspended Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were allegedly screened out of APC processes in Rivers State.

He said although the secretary of the screening committee had denied the reports, the allegations remained troubling.

“That is why it is worrisome to me, the news featuring about how the loyalists of Fubara were screened out of APC in Rivers,” he said.

He further referenced the political activities of former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, saying recent developments had fuelled speculations about internal power negotiations within the party.

“I will implore them not to use the instrumentality of screening to edge out unpopular aspirants. Rather, they should allow the contestants to discuss and reach consensus by themselves,” he said.

According to Ojo, where consensus fails, direct primaries remain the most credible option for the party.

Why party is yet to release list of cleared aspirants

Meanwhile, a source within the leadership of the party has told our correspondent that the report of the screening committee, which has just been submitted, will be scrutinized before any further action will be taken.

The source said after that, the list of the successful aspirants will be released.

He said, ‘’Thereafter, the appeal committee will begin sitting to entertain complaints from the aggrieved aspirants. When the appeal committee submits its report, appropriate resolutions will be made before the final list will be released.

Our correspondent reports that the primary election for the House of Representatives will be held on Friday, May 15, Senate, May 18 and State House of Assembly, May 20.

The governorship primary will hold on May 21 while that of the presidential primary will hold on May 23.

Following the close of the submission of completed forms on Thursday, May 7, APC commenced the screening of aspirants on Friday, May 8, 2026. (Daily Trust)

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