Omo-Agege, Ned Nwoko, Goje among high-profile casualties as APC Senate primaries deliver sweeping upsets

The All Progressives Congress (APC) held its senatorial primaries across Nigeria on Monday, May 18, 2026, producing a dramatic mix of landslide victories, shocking defeats, disqualifications, and controversy as the party’s heavyweights jostled for tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The primaries were marked by protests, consensus arrangements, allegations of manipulation, and the disqualification of no fewer than 44 aspirants nationwide. When the dust settled, several of Nigeria’s most recognisable political figures had been swept aside.

Delta State: A clean sweep against the incumbents

Delta State produced some of the most striking results of the day. In Delta Central, incumbent Senator Ede Dafinone emerged victorious over former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege by a wide margin. The result was announced by the Secretary of the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, Barr. Nusa Amagbor, who declared that Dafinone scored 116,252 votes against Omo-Agege’s 3,643 votes. Omo-Agege subsequently rejected the result, insisting that he had won the exercise.

In Delta North, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa — who served as the Peoples Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections — emerged victorious, polling 113,309 votes to defeat incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko, who scored 2,612 votes.

Gombe: End of an era for Goje

Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje lost the APC senatorial ticket for Gombe Central District, bringing an end to his bid for what would have been a fifth consecutive term. He was defeated in a direct primary election held across Akko and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas. The returning officer, Dr. Habu Dahiru, declared that retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed had emerged the winner, polling 42,785 votes to Goje’s 10,425. Goje has represented Gombe Central in the Senate since 2011, following his two terms as governor of the state. He disputed the outcome, but the APC’s election committee subsequently upheld the result, officially confirming his defeat.

Benue: Two sitting Senators ousted

In Benue State, two of three incumbent senators lost their seats. Emmanuel Udende, the incumbent senator representing Benue North East, was defeated by former governor Gabriel Suswam, who polled 131,083 votes. In Benue North West, former Customs deputy comptroller-general Benjamin Terseer Aber defeated incumbent Senator Titus Zam, scoring 93,412 votes.

Senate leadership holds firm

While incumbents fell elsewhere, the leadership of the Senate largely secured their tickets. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and former Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu all secured APC tickets for another term. While Akpabio, Barau, Bamidele and Ndume emerged either unopposed or by affirmation, Kalu recorded a crushing landslide victory in Abia North Senatorial District.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma also triumphed, defeating former governor Rochas Okorocha with 230,464 votes against 1,098. Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who backed the candidate who unseated Goje, emerged unopposed as the consensus candidate for Gombe North.

In Kogi Central, former Governor Yahaya Bello secured a landslide victory, polling 72,399 votes across the district. In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun prevailed in Ogun East, in a contest that saw supporters of his main challenger, incumbent Senator Gbenga Daniel, walk out.

Controversy and disputes

The primaries were not without controversy. In Edo South, parallel results emerged one declaring Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama the winner and another declaring Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, deepening controversy around the exercise. In Kogi East, Senator Jibrin Isah rejected the outcome after losing his return ticket, accusing Governor Ahmed Ododo’s camp of hijacking materials and frustrating his supporters, vowing to challenge Ododo in the governorship race.

The APC had initially released a list of 47 senatorial aspirants barred from contesting the primaries, including Rivers politician Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, and former Rivers State Head of Service Tammy Danagogo. Former Bayelsa East senator Ben Murray-Bruce was subsequently reinstated after being initially listed among those not cleared.

The outcomes of Monday’s primaries are expected to significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, signalling that neither seniority nor political pedigree offers guaranteed protection against the currents of APC’s internal democracy.