Six serving governors have lined up to pursue Senate seats in Nigeria's 2027 general elections. Five of them are APC members, while one operates under a different political banner.
Among the governors in the race are AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum. Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) have also thrown their hats in.
Bala Mohammed of Bauchi obtained his nomination form through the Allied Peoples Movement.
All five APC governors submitted their expression of interest forms before the party's senatorial primaries scheduled for May 18. They belong to the eight APC governors expected to complete their second terms by May 2027.
Some incumbent senators in these states have already stepped down. Others, however, aren't prepared to surrender their seats without a fight.
APC rules allow two primary formats — consensus when all aspirants agree to support one candidate, or direct primary when they can't reach agreement. The party will use whichever method applies in each district.
Political observers say it's become standard practice for term-limited governors to eye the Senate. They view it as the natural next stop after leaving the governor's office.
Not everyone approves of the trend. John Ireoluwa, a political scientist, raised concerns about how these governors operate.
"Even advanced democracies like the USA fill Senate seats with experienced politicians," he noted.
According to him, Nigeria's governors often use their power to push out sitting senators unfairly. "They muzzle out either the serving senators or anyone that dares contest against them," he said.
The race looks promising for governors in Adamawa and Yobe. Incumbent senators there have already agreed to step aside for their governors.
Governor Sule's situation in Nasarawa North stands out as unique. The seat became vacant in December 2025 after Senator Godiya Akwashiki died.
No by-election has been held to fill Akwashiki's vacancy since then. It appears unlikely any election will happen before the 2027 general polls commence.
Things could get messy in Ogun and Kwara states. Sitting senators there have threatened confrontation or demanded tough conditions before stepping aside.
In Gombe State, another battle is brewing. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya recently picked up his nomination form for Gombe North Senatorial District.
The same seat is currently held by former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo. Reports indicate Dankwambo, a PDP member, also plans to run again.
This matchup would pit the former governor against his successor. Both are eager to claim the Gombe North seat in 2027.
