Ahead of the 2027 general elections, governorship candidates have emerged on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in several states, including Ogun, Benue, Lagos, Oyo and Rivers States.
The candidates include Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola for Ogun State, Governor Hyacinth Alia for Benue State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for Lagos State, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli for Oyo State, and Kingsley Chinda for Rivers State.
Adeola’s emergence in Ogun followed a direct primary election conducted across the 236 wards of the state on Thursday.
According to the results announced by the Chairman of the Ogun State Governorship Electoral Committee, Mr. Wale Ohu, Senator Adeola secured 304,055 votes out of the 305,287 accredited voters.
The election was contested by Adeola and Abayomi Samako Hunye, who recorded no votes across the 20 local government areas of the state.
Ohu subsequently declared Senator Adeola as the duly elected governorship candidate of the APC for the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, adding that the results would be forwarded to the National Working Committee of the party.
In Benue State, the incumbent governor, Hyacinth Alia, emerged as the governorship candidate after securing 367,786 votes at the party’s primary election. He defeated Jeffery Kuranun and Terwase Orbunde, who polled 2,923 and 3,247 votes respectively.
Announcing the result, Chairman of the Benue APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primary Election Committee, Kabir Isah, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent, saying it reflected the popularity of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections. He declared Alia winner after scoring the highest number of votes in the election.
In Lagos State, the Returning Officer for the exercise, Brigadier-General Jonathan Temlong (retd), declared Obafemi Hamzat winner of the direct primary election after polling 657,917 votes to defeat Lanre Jim Kamal, who scored one vote. Temlong disclosed that another aspirant, Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Àjọṣe, withdrew from the race before voting commenced.
Addressing party members and supporters at the Ogun State APC Secretariat in Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta, Senator Adeola expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his mentorship and support throughout his political career spanning over two decades.
He stated that the President played a key role in his progression from the Lagos State House of Assembly to the House of Representatives and later to the Senate.
Adeola also appreciated former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba and incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun for their roles in facilitating his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate.
Speaking shortly after his declaration, Governor Alia thanked APC members, stakeholders and the people of Benue State for what he described as overwhelming support and solidarity. According to him, the endorsement represents a renewed mandate to deepen inclusive governance, strengthen security and accelerate development across the state.
Alia also thanked President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Chairman and the party leadership for adopting the direct primary system, saying, “it settles a lot of anxieties. It puts to rest every other contention here because the people have spoken and their expression is of the people.”
Obafemi Hamzat, while delivering his acceptance speech after emerging winner of the Lagos APC primary, said his ambition to become governor was driven by a desire to sustain and deepen the developmental strides achieved in Lagos State over the last 27 years.
He unveiled what he described as “My Lagos Dream,” a governance agenda focused on inclusive growth, continuity, service delivery, job creation, skills development, healthcare and infrastructure expansion.
“My decision to run for governor was taken after deep reflection. I know governance is not a tea party. I have had the privilege of serving under great leaders from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I have asked myself how I can use my experience for the betterment of Lagos and how we can sustain the progress the state is making. My conclusion is that we can do it,” Hamzat said.
The APC candidate pledged to run an inclusive government that would cater to traders, artisans, transport workers, youths, professionals and investors.
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated Hamzat on his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
In a statement issued on Friday, Sanwo-Olu described the massive turnout of party faithful during the primary election as a strong endorsement of Hamzat’s leadership capacity and vision for Lagos State.
In Rivers State, former APC governorship aspirant George-Kelly D.A. congratulated Kingsley Chinda on his emergence as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
George-Kelly, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday, described Chinda’s emergence as a product of unity, patriotism and commitment to the progressive ideals of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition in the state.
