Certificate of Return Delays: APC Winners Suspect Plot to Favour Akpabio’s Allies

Certificate of Return Delays: APC Winners Suspect Plot to Favour Akpabio’s Allies

Comments by Senate President Godswill Akpabio aimed at reassuring serving senators who lost out in the recently concluded party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections have sparked anxiety among victorious aspirants, who fear that despite winning their party tickets through the primaries, the outcome could be altered in favour of incumbent senators who are colleagues of the Senate President.

The aspirants are worried that, despite winning their party tickets through the primaries, the outcome could be altered in favour of incumbent senators who are colleagues of the Senate President. Those expressing concern are mainly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who fear that Akpabio could use his influence within the party to secure tickets for some of the defeated lawmakers.

Akpabio, while delivering a welcome address following the Senate’s resumption from a three-week recess and Eid-el-Kabir break, told lawmakers who failed to secure their parties’ tickets that the leadership of the National Assembly was still working to address the situation. While congratulating senators who emerged successful across party lines, the Senate President lamented the scale of defeats recorded during the primaries, noting that the losses were more substantial than anticipated.

He said: “I congratulate the political parties, one or two of which emanated from these chambers. They recently concluded their primaries and all internal democratic processes. I felicitate particularly with those who have secured their mandates to represent their parties in the next general election. I know that there will always be victories and disappointments, yet above every individual triumph stands a greater triumph, the triumph of democracy itself. In this Senate, we were promised that we would have very few disappointments. I do know that the Senate Leader and the rest of the leadership are working very hard to address these issues. So, in advance, I say congratulations to all of us across party lines.”

Following his remarks, Akpabio led senators into a closed-door executive session that lasted more than two hours. Sources told news outlets that Akpabio and other principal officers of the Senate also met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Although details of the meeting were not made public, insiders said discussions centred on possible options for some serving senators who lost their primaries.

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Before the Senate proceeded on recess, the leadership had reportedly assured lawmakers of automatic return tickets or consensus arrangements in many states. However, when the primaries were eventually conducted, only Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West) and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) secured automatic tickets. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (Kano North), the three senators from Borno State, and senators from Lagos State secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements.

Based on the results declared by the party, 60 of the 105 serving senators secured return tickets, while about 40 failed in their bids. Among those who lost are prominent figures including Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), Jibrin Isah (Kogi East), former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Abbas Aminu Iya (Adamawa Central), Kaila Samaila Dahuwa (Bauchi North), Titus Zam (Benue North-West), Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East), William Eteng Jonah (Cross River Central), Neda Imasuen (Edo South), former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Francis Ezenwa (Imo East), Musa Garba (Kebbi South), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North), Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole (Osun Central), Diket Plang (Plateau Central), and Ipalibo Harry Banigo (Rivers West).

Several senators also lost after contesting governorship primaries in their states. They include Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central), Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), Shehu Buba (Bauchi South), Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi (Nasarawa South), and Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), among others.

Despite the high-profile losses, the APC senatorial primaries also produced significant winners. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma secured the ticket for Imo West, while former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa trounced incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in Delta North, polling 113,309 votes against Nwoko’s 2,612 votes. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun prevailed in Ogun East after supporters of his main challenger and incumbent, Senator Gbenga Daniel, withdrew over alleged insecurity threats. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan secured the Yobe ticket, while former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole clinched Edo North through consensus arrangement. In Kogi Central, former Governor Yahaya Bello secured a landslide victory, polling 72,399 votes to defeat his challengers across the five local government areas of the district. Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume clinched the Borno South ticket by consensus, while Senator Orji Uzor Kalu secured a landslide victory in Abia North with 65,651 votes.

Meanwhile, some winners of the APC primaries have expressed concern over the delay in the issuance of Certificates of Return, alleging that it may be part of efforts to alter the final list of candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. Some victorious aspirants told news outlets that the delay had heightened anxiety, especially following comments suggesting that the party’s national leadership retained the final authority to determine candidates.

A successful aspirant from Kwara State, who requested anonymity, said those who defeated incumbent lawmakers had become increasingly suspicious. “Some of us who defeated incumbent legislators at both the state and national levels are now suspicious of the games being played by the national leadership of the party. We were told that the President is wading in to manage any crisis that might arise after the release of the final results. Since then, we have been worried,” she said.

Another successful aspirant from Gombe State said the Senate President’s comments remained open to different interpretations. “The statement is not clear, so we cannot comment on it yet. We are trying to seek clarification before reacting,” he said.

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Party officials, however, insist that the delay is in line with established procedures. Speaking through his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said primary election guidelines provided for the collation of results and resolution of appeals before the formal declaration of winners. Yilwatda had previously stated that no state chapter or electoral committee of the party has the authority to announce winners of the party’s primary elections, insisting that only the National Working Committee (NWC) can ratify and officially declare results from the primaries.

“The guidelines issued for the conduct of the primaries were very clear and unambiguous. Results from the various levels were to be collated appropriately, while the formal declaration of winners would only come after the appeal processes have been concluded,” Tooki said. He added that aggrieved aspirants retained the constitutional right to seek redress through the party’s appeal mechanism.

A reliable party source confirmed that the various appeal committees had submitted their reports and that the reports are still being evaluated. Once that is completed, a final result will be sent to the party’s National Working Committee for action. “The NWC will meet on this any moment from now and once that is done the list will be announced,” the source said.

However, some aspirants argued that the delay has fuelled fears that the outcome of the primaries could still be altered administratively. They also pointed out that while many of them were yet to receive their certificates, President Bola Tinubu has already been presented with his Certificate of Return by the party following his victory at the APC presidential primary. They argued that the prompt issuance of the President’s certificate contrasts sharply with the treatment being meted out to other victorious aspirants across the country. “The President has already received his Certificate of Return, so why are the others being delayed? The party should not create the impression that some candidates are more valid than others,” one candidate stated.

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Article 19 of the APC constitution states that the list of candidates elected at the party primary election, congresses, and conventions shall be forwarded, after the disposal of appeals, to the National Working Committee of the party for ratification or confirmation as candidates for national or general elections. This provision has become a source of concern for many aspirants who fear that the NWC could overturn primary results in favour of preferred candidates.

The concern is not without precedent. In Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, party leaders have petitioned President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, the NWC, and INEC over what they described as the wrongful alteration of the outcome of the party’s primary election for Agege Constituency I. According to the petition, Mr. Egunjobi Ganiyu Kola emerged as the winner of the primary election held on 20th May 2026, polling 9,132 votes out of 10,126 votes cast, but was subsequently denied recognition as the party’s candidate after a newspaper report published a different name as the winner.

Public affairs analyst Dr. Seun Ajayi cautioned against overturning the outcome of the primaries. He warned that the party must respect the choice of its members, who selected their candidates through direct primaries. He said anything short of that would negate the principles of internal democracy and cause discord among the aspirants. “What the President can do is ensure that those who lost out, especially the serving senators, are given alternative national assignments if he still needs their services, instead of overturning the choice of the people,” he said.

Already, several lawmakers who lost out in the primary process have left the ruling party or are considering their options. They include Shehu Buba, senator representing Bauchi South, and Garba Maidoki, senator representing Kebbi South. In Kogi East, Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the outcome of the primary after losing his return ticket, accusing Governor Ahmed Ododo’s camp of hijacking materials and frustrating his supporters. “The battle line has been drawn,” he declared, vowing to challenge Ododo in the governorship race.

Akpabio, however, framed the developments as part of the democratic process, saying while some aspirants emerged victorious and others suffered setbacks, democracy remained the ultimate winner. His remark about not being “lured into another political party” also underscored growing concerns about potential defections following contentious primary contests across the country.

At the time of filing this report, no official clarification had been issued by Akpabio or the Senate leadership regarding the specific nature of the efforts being made to assist defeated senators, leaving APC primary winners across the country in a state of uncertainty as they await the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Certificate of Return Delays: APC Winners Suspect Plot to Favour Akpabio’s Allies.