Seven serving and 12 former governors will contest the 16 January 2027 election into the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the end of the ruling party’s primary elections, Governors Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) got the tickets to contest in the general elections.
Former governors, who were victorious, include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was Akwa Ibom Governor between 2007and 2015); Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); and Ramalan Yero (Kaduna). Others are: Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano) and Sani Bello (Niger).
The primary elections also produced victories for several high-ranking federal lawmakers and party leaders.
Akpabio retained the APC ticket for Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial district, while his deputy at the Senate, Jibrin Barau, secured the ticket for Kano North.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele retained the ticket for Ekiti Central, while Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, won the Ekiti South primary.
However, Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru lost the senatorial ticket for Kwara South to a former chairperson of the Federal Character Commission, Muheebah Dankaka.
So far, 51 serving senators have secured APC tickets to seek re-election in 2027.
However, 14 serving senators were defeated during the primary elections across different states.
They included Ashiru, Pam Dachungyang (Plateau North), Eteng Williams (Cross River Central), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), and Samaila Kaila (Bauchi North).
Others are: Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), Peter Jiya (Niger South), Titus Zam (Benue Northwest), Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North) and Emmanuel Udende (Benue Northeast).
Some serving senators either stepped down from the race, were disqualified, or declined to seek re-election.
Musa Mustapha stepped down for Buni in Yobe East, while Amos Yohanna withdrew for Fintiri in Adamawa North. Ezenwa Onyewuchi of Imo East is contesting the governorship primary.
In Rivers West, former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Banigo, was disqualified from the primary election but vowed to appeal the decision.
Nasiru Zangon did not seek re-election in Katsina North, while Sharafadeen Alli and Salihu Mustapha from Oyo South and Kwara Central, respectively, opted to pursue governorship ambitions.
In Ogun West, Solomon Adeola emerged as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Ogun State. Aliyu Wadada of Nasarawa West also emerged as the APC consensus governorship candidate in his state.
The primary elections also highlighted defections and political realignments within the APC.
In Edo South, Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie defeated Neda Imaseun, who defected from the Labour Party to the APC in July 2025.
Ibrahim Baba defeated Kaila in Bauchi North after the senator defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2025.
In Niger South, Idris Kutigi defeated Jiya, who moved from the PDP to the APC in March. Pam Dachungyang, who moved from the Action Democratic Party to the APC in January 2026, was defeated by Simon Mwadkwon, his predecessor.
However, Benson Friday Konbowei, who represents Bayelsa Central and defected from the PDP to the APC in October 2025, secured the party’s ticket.
Some contests were also shaped by withdrawals and unresolved disputes.
In Ogun East, Abiodun emerged after a former governor, Gbenga Daniel, withdrew from the race days before the primary.
In Kogi East, Joseph Erico emerged as a candidate after defeating Jibrin Isah, although the Senator insisted that no election was held.
In Kebbi South, Jafar Gajere emerged as the APC candidate after Garba Maidoki resigned from the party four days before the primaries.
The primary elections also reinforced the dominance of incumbents in several states.
In Lagos, all three incumbent senators retained their tickets. They are: Wasiu Eshinlokun (Lagos Central), Idiat Adebule (Lagos West), and Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East).
Adebule, Ngozi Kene-Chiedu and Muheebah Dankaka are the three female senatorial candidates produced by the APC in the elections.
In Borno, all incumbent senators retained their tickets, including Kaka Shehu (Central), Ali Ndume (South) and Tahir Monguno (North).
APC returned incumbent senators in Enugu, Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Lagos, Ekiti and parts of Yobe, Osun, Edo, Delta and Oyo.
In Delta North, Okowa defeated Nwoko to clinch the party’s ticket, while Ede Dafinone and Joel-Onowakpo Thomas retained their slots.
In Benue Northeast, Suswam defeated Udende, while Dave Padopads-Awunah unseated Zam in Benue Northwest.
The APC has yet to conclude senatorial primary elections in several districts across the country.
States where primaries have either not been held or remain inconclusive include Bauchi, Adamawa, Kogi, Oyo, and Taraba.
Full list of APC senatorial candidates
Abia: Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jr (Abia South), Emeka Atum (Abia Central)
Adamawa: Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa North), Felix Tangwami (Adamawa South)
Akwa Ibom: Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom Northeast), Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South)
Anambra: Nelson Onubuogu (Anambra North), Kene Chiedu Ngozi Benedicta (Anambra Central), Chibuogu Oraelusi (Anambra South)
Bauchi: Yakubu Abdullahi (Bauchi South), Ibrahim Baba (Bauchi North)
Bayelsa: Fidelis Agbiki (Bayelsa West), Friday Kombowei Benson (Bayelsa Central), Israel Sunny-Goli (Bayelsa East)
Benue: Dave Padopads-Awunah (Benue Northwest), Gabriel Suswam (Benue Northeast), Francis Agbo (Benue South)
Borno: Kaka Shehu (Borno Central), Ali Ndume (Borno South), Tahir Monguno (Borno North)
Cross River: Jarigbe Jarigbe (Cross River North), Oden Ewa (Cross River Central), Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South)
Delta: Ede Dafinone (Delta Central), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North), Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South)
Edo: Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central), Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie (Edo South)
Ekiti: Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North), Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South)
Enugu: Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), Kelvin Chukwu (Enugu East), Ikeje Asogwa (Enugu North)
Gombe: Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe North), Mohammed Ahmed (Gombe Central), Jerry Damara (Gombe South)
Imo: Alex Mbata (Imo East), Hope Uzodimma (Imo West), Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North)
Jigawa: Babangida Hussain (Jigawa Northwest), Ahmed Malam Madori (Jigawa Northeast), Sani Garba (Jigawa Southwest)
Kaduna: Ramalan Yero (Kaduna North), Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), Sunday Katung (Kaduna South)
Kano: Jibrin Barau (Kano North), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central), Abdulrahman Kawu (Kano South)
Katsina: Mutari Dandutse (Katsina South), Nasir Daura (Katsina North), Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (Katsina Central)
Kebbi: Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), Jafar Gajere (Kebbi South)
Kogi: Joseph Erico (Kogi East), Yahaya Bello (Kogi Central)
Kwara: Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara Central) Sadiq Umar (Kwara North), Muheebah Dankaka (Kwara South)
Lagos: Wasiu Eshinlokun (Lagos Central), Idiat Adebule (Lagos West), Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East)
Nasarawa: Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa North), Faisal Shuaib (Nasarawa West)
Niger: Idris Kutigi (Niger South), Sani Musa (Niger East), Sani Bello (Niger North)
Ogun: Dapo Abiodun (Ogun East), Jimoh Ojugbele (Ogun West), Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central)
Ondo: Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North), Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central), Isaacs Kekemeke (Ondo South)
Osun: Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Adekunle Adeogoke (Osun Central), Akintunde Oyebiyi (Osun West)
Oyo: Remi Oseni (Oyo South), Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central)
Plateau: David Barji (Plateau Central), Simon Lalong (Plateau South), Simon Mwadkwon (Plateau North)
Rivers: Felix Obuah (Rivers West), Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), Barry Mwara (Rivers Southeast)
Sokoto: Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto Central), Umaru Ajiya (Sokoto East), Ibrahim Danbaba (Sokoto South)
Taraba: Manu Haruna (Taraba Central), David Jimkuta (Taraba South)
Yobe: Mai Mala Buni (Yobe East), Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South)
Zamfara: Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West), Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara Central), Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara North)
FCT: Philip Aduda
Senatorial districts not listed are either pending, inconclusive, or yet to conduct APC primary elections due to internal disputes, zoning disagreements, logistical challenges and postponements.
