By Our Reporters

Aheadof the 2027 general elections, governorship candidates have emerged on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in many states, including Ogun, Benue, Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers States.

They include the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun); Governor Hyacinth Alia (Benue); Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos), Chairman, Senate Committee of Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli (Oyo); and Kingsley Chinda (Rivers).

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 a total of 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 thereafter 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 (NWC) of the party.

In Benue State, the incumbent governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia emerged as the governorship candidate securing an overwhelming 367,786 votes at the party’s primary. He defeated his rivals, 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, transparent and reflective of the popularity of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections. He returned Alia as the governorship candidate for the APC have scored the highest number of votes in the election. In Lagos, the Returning Officer for the exercise, Brig-Gen Jonathan Temlong (retd), declared Hamzat winner of the direct primary election after polling 657,917 votes to defeat Lanre Jim Kamal, who scored one vote. Temlong disclosed that a third aspirant, Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Àjọṣe, withdrew from the race before voting commenced.

Addressing party members and supporters at the Ogun State APC Secretariat, Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta, the visibly elated Senator Adeola, expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his mentorship and support throughout his 24-year political journey.

He noted that the President played a pivotal role in his political progression from the Lagos State House of Assembly to the House of Representatives and his eventual emergence as a three-term Senator.

Adeola also appreciated former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba and the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, for the roles they played 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 the overwhelming love, trust and solidarity. According to the governor, the endorsement represents a renewed mandate to deepen inclusive governance, strengthen security and accelerate development across the state. Alia thanked President Bola Tinubu, APC National Chairman and all his advisory team, for their decision to do option A4, the direct primaries, 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.

Deputy governor of Lagos State and governorship candidate of the APC, Obafemi Hamzat, declared that his ambition to become the next governor of Lagos is driven by a desire to sustain and deepen the developmental strides achieved in the 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.

Speaking during his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the primary on Thursday’s night, Hamzat said his years in public service and close working relationship with successive governors had prepared him for the enormous responsibility of governing Africa’s largest commercial city.

“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 all-inclusive government that would cater for every segment of society, including traders, artisans, transport workers, youths, professionals and investors. Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated Hamzat on his emergence as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 governorship election.

In a statement issued on Friday, Sanwo-Olu described the massive turnout of party faithful during the primary as a strong endorsement of Hamzat’s leadership capacity and vision for the state.

In Rivers, former governorship aspirant of the APC, George-Kelly D.A. has 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.