Governors and aspirants seeking tickets on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Friday appeared before the party’s screening committee ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise, which began with governorship and National Assembly aspirants, is being supervised by a committee led by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
During the screening, aspirants were interviewed while documents attached to their nomination forms were thoroughly examined by the committee.
Among the governors screened were Bassey Otu, Dauda Lawal, Francis Nwifuru, Ahmed Aliyu, Uba Sani, Umar Mohammed Bago, Dikko Umaru Radda, Umar Namadi, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sheriff Oborevwori, Hyacinth Alia and Nasir Idris.
Governors serving their final term who are now seeking senatorial tickets also participated in the exercise. They include Inuwa Yahaya, Ahmadu Fintiri and Dapo Abiodun.
Governor Abiodun later confirmed his appearance before the committee in a post shared on his X account.
The APC screening exercise is expected to continue through Sunday, while governorship primaries are scheduled for May 21.
Party records showed that many first-term governors are expected to emerge unopposed in their states, effectively turning the primaries into affirmation exercises. However, some states are witnessing intense competition, especially Kwara, where no fewer than 15 aspirants are contesting for the governorship ticket.
Other states with strong competition include Adamawa, Oyo, Yobe, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Abia and Taraba.
Meanwhile, disagreements over consensus arrangements have continued to create tension within the party in some states.
In Yobe State, six governorship aspirants under the APC rejected the reported endorsement of former Secretary to the State Government, Baba Mallam Wali, as a consensus candidate.
The aspirants insisted that only a transparent and credible primary election should determine the party’s governorship candidate.
The group also accused the state APC leadership of bias and demanded fairness in the process.
In Nasarawa State, a legal challenge has also emerged over the governorship ambition of Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, following allegations of dual party membership involving the APC and the Social Democratic Party.
Elsewhere, the Adamawa APC chapter appears divided over whether to adopt consensus or direct primaries, while stakeholders in Oyo State are preparing for a major governorship contest ahead of the party primaries.
Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is expected to formally declare his governorship ambition in Oyo State on Tuesday.
In the presidential race under the African Democratic Congress, former Edo State Governor, John Odigie-Oyegun, has obtained a presidential nomination form for former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has also joined the ADC presidential race, promising to prioritise national security if elected president.
The APC leadership in Imo State has meanwhile warned aspirants against holding unauthorised political meetings ahead of the primaries, stressing that all activities must comply with party guidelines and the Electoral Act.
