At least five APC governors face stiff competition as they pursue second-term bids in 2027. Party officials had hoped to settle candidacies through consensus, but that strategy is crumbling fast.
Our investigation found that 13 sitting governors will likely run unopposed for their party's nomination. This means their May 21 primary elections will serve as mere formalities.
Governors on that uncontested list are Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom, Bassey Otu of Cross River, and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta. Also included are Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), and Uba Sani (Kaduna).
Abba Yusuf of Kano, Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina, and Nasir Idris of Kebbi are on the list. Umar Bago (Niger), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) complete the group.
Kwara State presents the fiercest battleground right now. A screening committee member told us that 15 aspirants are competing for the ticket in that state alone.
Adamawa has drawn eight contestants for the governorship race. Oyo and Yobe each have six aspirants seeking the nomination.
Bauchi and Nasarawa recorded five candidates each for their races. Abia and Taraba have four aspirants respectively fighting for their party's ticket.
Governors in Benue, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Taraba, and Plateau expect rough rides ahead. Personal and political divisions are threatening their comeback efforts.
In Benue, tension between Secretary to the Government George Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia clouds the picture. Many Akume allies have already switched to the Labour Party, including former APC aspirant Mathias Byuan.
Taraba's governor claims he's earned the right to run unopposed through consensus. But Sabo Kente, Mustafa Jaji, and former power minister Saleh Maman have bought nomination forms anyway.
Commander Yilchini Jan Bida from Kanke LGA in Plateau has also defied the consensus push. He cleared the screening committee and has already set up a campaign apparatus.
Ebonyi is witnessing its own brewing crisis. Minister of Works David Umahi and Governor Francis Nwifuru appear headed for a showdown.
Sources say friction developed after Nwifuru adopted consensus arrangements for state elections. This reportedly shut out some aspirants who had ties to Umahi, sources told our team.
Party insiders acknowledge the consensus model was meant to reduce internal squabbles. But ambition and personal rivalries are proving stronger than party unity slogans.
