The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved closer to concluding its preparations for the 2027 governorship elections after submitting the names of candidates and their running mates for 27 of the 28 states where governorship polls will be conducted, leaving only one North-East state awaiting the resolution of an internal nomination issue.

Party Nears Completion of INEC Nomination Process

The latest development marks a significant milestone in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, following months of governorship primaries that produced both victories and internal disagreements across several state chapters.

According to The Nation, the party has already transmitted the details of its governorship candidates and deputy governorship nominees in 27 states to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The only outstanding nomination relates to a North-East state, where party leaders are expected to meet in Abuja to conclude consultations over the selection of a deputy governorship candidate.

Party insiders attributed the delay to the need to nominate a replacement after the serving deputy governor completed the constitutionally permitted tenure.

Disputed Primaries Finally Produce Recognised Candidates

Although several APC governorship primaries were initially overshadowed by protests and complaints from aspirants, the party has now proceeded with the formal submission of candidates from the affected states.

Among the states where disputes have largely subsided are Kwara, Oyo, Adamawa and Bauchi, all of which witnessed internal disagreements following the outcome of their governorship contests.

The successful submission of candidates from those states signals that the party has managed to move beyond some of its most contentious nomination battles ahead of the electoral season.

How Key State Disputes Were Resolved

In Kwara State, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, secured the APC governorship ticket despite opposition from several influential aspirants, including Senators Salihu Mustapha, Oyelola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq Suleiman.

While Danladi’s emergence generated resistance within different senatorial districts, the party leadership eventually resolved the disagreements before forwarding his nomination to INEC.

In Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli was confirmed as the APC governorship candidate, with Adesoji Adedeji named as his running mate.

Former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, who had challenged the conduct of the primary election, reportedly pursued the party’s internal appeal process before party leaders succeeded in resolving the dispute.

Bauchi and Adamawa Reflect Different Political Outcomes

The APC also faced significant internal challenges in Bauchi State, where former governor Mohammed Abubakar emerged victorious after a keenly contested primary involving several prominent party figures.

The disagreement that followed eventually resulted in the defection of Senator Shehu Umar Buba, who later secured the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Some APC officials within the state also left the party to support his candidacy.

Despite those setbacks, the APC retained Abubakar as its recognised governorship candidate and completed his submission to INEC.

Meanwhile, tensions within the party’s Adamawa State chapter appear to have eased after Ahmed Tijani Galadima emerged as the APC candidate.

Although reports suggested that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri had preferred another aspirant, subsequent public appearances alongside Galadima have been interpreted by party members as a sign that internal differences are gradually being resolved.

Assembly Candidate Submissions Also Progressing

Beyond the governorship race, the APC has continued processing nominations for the 2027 State House of Assembly elections.

Party officials disclosed that approximately 60 per cent of its assembly candidates across the federation have already been uploaded as political parties race to meet INEC’s submission deadline.

The electoral commission has given political parties until August 8 to conclude the nomination of candidates for both governorship and state legislative elections.

One Outstanding Decision Before Deadline

Despite substantial progress, APC officials acknowledged that one final nomination remains unresolved.

A member of the party’s vetting committee, who spoke anonymously, said consultations were ongoing to conclude the selection of a deputy governorship candidate in one North-East state.

According to the official, once that issue is settled, the party expects to complete its governorship nomination process nationwide.

The Bigger Political Picture

The completion of governorship nominations represents an important stage in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly after several state chapters experienced highly competitive primaries and post-election disagreements.

How effectively the party maintains internal unity after resolving those disputes could influence its campaign strength across several battleground states as preparations for the general elections gather momentum.

What to Watch

Political attention is now expected to shift toward the APC’s final outstanding nomination, the completion of its State House of Assembly candidate submissions and how successfully the party manages post-primary reconciliation efforts before nationwide campaigns begin.

As the INEC submission deadline approaches, other political parties are also expected to finalise their candidate lists, setting the stage for a more intense phase of the 2027 electoral process.

How important do you think internal party unity will be in determining electoral success ahead of the 2027 governorship elections? Which state do you believe could witness the most competitive governorship race? Share your views in the comments and continue the conversation on Gossip News Now.