Senate President Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Jibrin Barau; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; and Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno, alongside five serving governors and former governors, are among prominent figures expected to contest in today’s senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The serving governors seeking APC senatorial tickets include Hope Uzodimma (Imo West), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa North), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa North), and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe South). Others are AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara Central), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe North), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun East).
Several former governors are also in the race, including Yahaya Bello (Kogi Central), who will face incumbent senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP. Similarly, former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who is currently a senator, will defend his seat against Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.
Our correspondent reports that several Senate leaders have emerged unopposed in their respective districts, while many serving governors are said to have secured consensus nominations ahead of the primaries.
Also in the race are former governors Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Simon Lalong (Plateau), and Danjuma Goje (Gombe), all vying for senatorial seats in their constituencies.
Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has also formally declared his ambition to contest the Delta Central senatorial seat. The APC began its primaries on Saturday with aspirants contesting House of Representatives tickets, ahead of today’s senatorial primaries across the country.
The party has also set up primary appeal committees across all states to entertain complaints that might arise from the exercise. A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, charged members of the committees to be fair and just in discharging their assignments.
Our correspondent gathered that although the official list of aspirants cleared for the senatorial primaries has not yet been released, the party has directly contacted individuals who have outstanding issues with their clearance.
The party also instructed officers dispatched from Abuja to promptly adopt indirect primaries in locations where local stakeholders failed to reach a consensus arrangement.
