The consensus option embraced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in choosing its gubernatorial candidates for 2027 polls is under threat as 101 aspirants have officially indicated interest in the 28 available slots.

All the aspirants purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest in the general election.

The governorship aspirants’ list put together by the national leadership of the party showed Kwara State with the largest number of 16 aspirants jostling to succeed outgoing Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, who is also the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

The state chapter of the party has been in turmoil since the alleged efforts to jettison the consensus option which reportedly favoured one of the senators currently representing the state.

Coming close behind Kwara is Oyo with 11 aspirants, despite insinuation that the presidency might show preference for the senator representing Oyo South, Sarafadeen Alli.

Similar scenario is playing out in Ogun where another senator, Solomon Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, with an open endorsement, is still facing a solo challenger in Abayomi Semako Hunye.

Adamawa is another state with a double-digit number of aspirants, with the outgoing incumbent APC governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, also unable to present a common front.

Borno State, however, stood out of the states with outgoing APC governors struggling to implement the consensus option.

It has just an aspirant in Mustapha Gubio, the pick of the outgoing governor, Babagana Zulum.

Aside from Oyo State, where the president’s preference is being challenged with pick in Lagos, incumbent deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, also has challengers in Samuel Ajose and Laraen Jim-Kamal.

Other states with multiple aspirants include Abia (five), Bauchi (eight), Gombe (three), Nasarawa (seven), Taraba (four) and Yobe (seven).

All of Gombe, Nasarawa, Taraba and Yobe have sitting APC governors.

Just like Abdulrazaq, the governors have also been unable to present consensus candidates, despite President Tinubu publicly announcing the APC governors as leaders of their state chapters of the party.

Of the 16 governorship party seeking re-election, 13 got through to the nomination without a challenge.

However, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau and Hyacinth Alia of Benue, may have to go through their challengers.

While Fubara has three challengers in Tonye Cole, Honourable China Kingsely and Alaba George, the Plateau governor has to go through a retired military officer, Commodore Yilchinjian Bida.

Embattled Benue governor, Alia, has four challengers namely, Mathias Byuan, Kuranen Jeffrey Isaac, Akutah Pius Ukeyima and Terwase Orbunde.

All the three governors with primary election challengers decamped from the fragmented opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling party.

Of all the outgoing second term governors, only Zulum succeeded in presenting a consensus candidate.

In what will suggest a deep division in Kwara, 40 aspirants are also eyeing the six House of Representatives seats in the state.

A whopping 154 aspirants are also lining up for the 24 seats of the state assembly.

The outgoing governor is allegedly promoting the candidature of the assembly Speaker, Yakub Danladi Salihu, who is one of the listed aspirants.

Other aspirants in the Oyo APC race for the gubernatorial ticket, are; Adebayo Wasiu Adesina, Adebayo Adelabu, Oyedele Oyebode, Akeem Agbaje, Adewale Kolapo Kareem, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Olaimtan Raufu Aderemi, Fatai Buhari and Bakare Usman.

The party’s primary election is slated for May 21. (TRIBUNE)