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.

Omo-Agege Backs Obi’s 2027 Ambition, Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has declared support for the 2027 presidential ambition of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, while insisting that he still backs key economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu.

Omo-Agege made the remarks during an appearance on ARISE Television’s The Morning Show, where he addressed growing public attention around his political alignment following his exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He explained that his support for Obi does not amount to a rejection of the Tinubu administration’s policies, stressing that his position on major economic decisions remains unchanged.

“I was a member of the APC. I never left the APC; the party left me and left my over 230,000 supporters in Delta State,” he said during the interview.

Omo-Agege maintained that he continues to support some of the administration’s flagship economic measures, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he described as difficult but necessary reforms.

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“When Mr President came up with the economic policies, most especially the naira floatation and subsidy removal, these are policies I supported and continue to support,” he stated.

He further argued that his position on the reforms is consistent with his earlier stance and should not be interpreted as political contradiction.

According to him, the same policy ideas being implemented by the Tinubu administration were also previously advocated by Peter Obi, suggesting a policy convergence between both political figures despite being in different parties.

“Even though these policies were espoused by Mr President, which I support, the same policies were also supported by Peter Obi,” he said.

Omo-Agege added that his endorsement of Obi for the 2027 presidential race is rooted in his belief that Nigerians may have greater confidence in the implementation of the reforms under Obi’s leadership.

He argued that public trust and perception play a major role in the success of economic policies, especially those that have short-term social and economic impacts.

“The question is, have I changed my opinion about this? No, I have not,” he said.

“I just believe that under the new platform I’ve gone to, these policies will continue and the people… would feel more confident because they are more comfortable and trust Peter Obi that he will make these policies work more than Mr President could have done.”

He also insisted that the policies themselves should not be blamed for current economic challenges, but rather their implementation and public acceptance.

“The policies are not bad policies,” Omo-Agege added.

His comments come amid increasing political realignments and early positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, with key figures across party lines beginning to signal shifting alliances and strategic endorsements.

Political observers say Omo-Agege’s remarks highlight the evolving and often fluid nature of Nigeria’s opposition and ruling party dynamics, particularly as debates around economic reforms, cost of living, and governance continue to shape national discourse.

Omo-Agege Backs Obi’s 2027 Ambition, Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Oyo APC Primary Crisis: Adelabu Rejects Alli, Says No Candidate Yet

Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has urged party members to remain calm amid growing uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the party’s governorship primary election, insisting that no candidate has been officially declared by the party’s national leadership in Abuja .

In a statement issued on Monday, Adelabu said the APC national headquarters has not authorised any individual, group, or committee in Oyo to announce the outcome of the governorship poll. He described reports circulating on social media and other unofficial channels regarding successful candidates as premature and potentially misleading, urging party faithful to disregard them pending an official pronouncement by the party leadership in Abuja .

“However, it is important to remind ourselves that the National Headquarters of our party has expressly directed that no individual, group or committee at the state level is authorised to announce the final outcome of the primaries,” Adelabu said . “Consequently, any purported list of candidates being circulated on social media or through unofficial channels should be treated with utmost caution until the National Leadership of the party makes its official pronouncement.”

Adelabu appealed to party members and supporters to remain patient and law-abiding. “At this crucial stage, no one should allow himself or herself to be misled by rumours, propaganda or premature victory claims designed to manipulate public perception, create confusion among party faithful and influence ongoing consultations within the party,” he said .

Adelabu’s statement comes after Oyo APC chairman, Moses Adeyemo, reportedly declared Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s governorship candidate following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos over the weekend . Several news outlets had also reported that Alli had emerged as the consensus candidate of the party, winning the May 21 direct primary election .

The former minister expressed serious concern over reports that some aggrieved party members had begun defecting to opposition parties in protest over the alleged consensus arrangements. “I am particularly concerned by reports that some of our members, feeling aggrieved by the rumours surrounding the purported consensus arrangements, have begun defecting to opposition parties in protest,” he said .

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“Let me state unequivocally that I condemn these defections in their entirety,” Adelabu declared. He said abandoning the APC over speculation and unofficial information would weaken the party and benefit its political opponents. “Every committed member of APC has invested time, resources, energy and sacrifices into the growth of this party. It would be unfortunate to abandon that investment based on speculations and unofficial information,” he added .

Adelabu recalled that the experiences of the 2019 and 2023 elections showed that internal divisions and avoidable defections could undermine the party’s electoral prospects in Oyo State . He urged the party not to repeat the same mistakes if it hopes to return to power in 2027 .

Despite the controversy surrounding the primary outcome, Adelabu expressed confidence in the ability of the APC national leadership to address all concerns arising from the process. “I have absolute confidence that the National Leadership of our party possesses the wisdom, experience and institutional capacity to address all concerns arising from the primary process,” he stated. “I am equally confident that appropriate interventions will be made where necessary to ensure justice, fairness and party cohesion” .

Adelabu urged party leaders, elders, youth groups, women groups, support organisations, and fellow aspirants to exercise restraint and avoid actions capable of deepening divisions within the party. He also cautioned against spreading unverified claims of endorsements, approvals, or predetermined consensus arrangements. “The strength of our party lies in transparency, credibility and respect for due process. No individual or group should engage in activities capable of misleading our members or creating false impressions regarding decisions that have not been officially communicated by the National Headquarters,” he said .

Adelabu, who resigned as Minister of Power on April 30, 2026, to contest the APC governorship primary, had previously faulted the conduct of the primary election, alleging irregularities and manipulation of results . On the day of the primary, after voting at Ward 9, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Adelabu described the process in his ward as peaceful and credible but alleged that reports from several wards across the state indicated cases of electoral misconduct, intimidation, and falsification of results .

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In a notable challenge to the reported figures, Adelabu also disputed claims that Senator Alli polled over 500,000 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate. He argued that the total number of registered APC members in Oyo State stands at 153,640 and not 500,000, making such figures mathematically impossible . This assertion aligns with an official source who confirmed that APC has 157,266 registered members in Oyo State, out of which 109,978 participated in the primary .

The actual result of the primary, as confirmed by a senior party official in the office of the APC National Organising Secretary, reportedly placed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the winner with 91,824 votes . According to this official result, Adelabu came second with 7,532 votes, while Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North, came third with 6,963 votes . These figures stand in stark contrast to the earlier circulated figures on social media, which had credited Alli with 578,143 votes – a number that party officials described as “mathematically impossible” given the state’s registered APC membership .

The crisis has deepened as five governorship aspirants have called for the immediate resignation of the Oyo APC chairman, Dr. Moses Alake Adeyemo . In a communique issued at the end of their meeting on Monday, the five aspirants – Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Prince Musbau Asatola Asanike, Dr. Ololade Usman Bakare, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, and Engr. Akeem Oyedele Alao – accused Adeyemo of undermining the integrity of the party .

The aspirants listed several grievances, including Adeyemo’s alleged directive to all local government party chairmen to ensure victory for a particular aspirant even before the primaries, which they described as “a gross abuse of office and a violation of neutrality.” They also condemned the chairman for declaring an aspirant as the party’s candidate before the National Working Committee released the official result, noting that “only the NWC has the constitutional mandate to announce results” .

The communique further expressed alarm that under Adeyemo’s watch, party members were leaving the APC in large numbers for other parties. “Loyal members feel sidelined, unprotected, and disrespected. This exodus weakens our party structure and threatens our electoral prospects in 2026 and beyond if urgent steps are not taken,” the aspirants warned .

Meanwhile, other stakeholders within the Oyo APC have defended Senator Alli’s emergence and dismissed claims that the chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, railroaded the choice of Alli at the party primaries . Key stakeholders under the umbrella of the Oyo State APC Stakeholders Forum, in a statement signed by Mr Femi Aremu, argued that “the fact that all Oyo APC stakeholders and influential persons aligned with Senator Sharafadeen Alli only exposed the frustration of those who believed political power could be sustained through personal ego and isolation from party structures” .

The stakeholders further noted: “Rather than concocting false accusations about misuse of public funds, attention should be focused on why a supposedly formidable political figure failed to inspire confidence within his own political family. The truth remains that Zacch Adedeji neither imposed himself on Oyo politics nor forced anyone to support a particular candidate. Stakeholders, leaders, and party faithful made their choices freely based on political realities, relationships, and perceived capacity to unite and move the party forward” .

The Oyo APC chairman had earlier described the primary as credible and disclosed that the primary election committee would forward results to the national secretariat for formal announcement, in line with the party’s guidelines . A Monitoring Committee had also been put in place to guarantee transparency and fairness throughout the exercise .

Adelabu, who contested the 2023 Oyo governorship election on the Accord Party platform before defecting to the APC , has urged members to place unity above individual ambitions. “Elections come and go, but the party remains our common platform for service, development and progressive governance,” he said. He added that concerns raised by party members would be addressed through appropriate structures .

“Together, we shall overcome our current challenges, emerge stronger and position our great party for victory in the elections ahead,” Adelabu concluded .

Other Oyo APC gubernatorial hopefuls include Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South), Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), Rauf Olaniyan (former deputy governor), Adewale Kareem, Musbau Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Oyedele Alao, and Ololade Bakare .

Oyo APC Primary Crisis: Adelabu Rejects Alli, Says No Candidate Yet