Senator James John Udoedehe has emerged winner of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship primary election in Akwa Ibom State.

Udoedehe won the primary election with a total of 66.099 votes, defeating his closest rival, Barr Mfon Peters, who scored 103 votes.Also Princess Pat Akpabio, a sister inlaw of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, cliched the party’s ticket for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District with a total of 21,326 votes.

The Chairman, Primary Election Committee, John Elijah, who announced the results, commended the party’s members for their orderliness and peaceful disposition during the primaries across the state.

He expressed optimism that the candidates for various offices would emerge victorious at the general polls in 2027.

In his acceptance speech, the governorship candidate, Udoedehe, thanked party members for electing him, noting that he joined the race to salvage Akwa Ibom State.

Udoedehe who is a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, stated that ADC as an opposition party has come to give Akwa Ibom people an alternative government where accountability would be entrenched.

He decried the rate of unemployment, poverty and inequality in the state, pledging that his administration would address the issues.

“We are coming to give Akwa Ibom people an alternative government, building them from sprinkled daily bread policy to affluence,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of other candidates, the candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Princess Akpabio, said she was out to win and not to romance anybody’s ego.

She urged Akwa Ibom people to take advantage of the Continus Voters Registration exercise, to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards in oder to be eligible to vote come 2027.
She added, “I believe in change and we are capable to make the change. We are not here to massage anyone, our aim is to make a better Nigeria and better Akwa Ibom.”

Mustapha Bala Dawaki, former Chief of Staff to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

Dawaki, a former member of the House of Representatives from Kano State, defected to the opposition party just a week after he lost the APC ticket for the 2027 election following a consensus decision.

Saifullahi Hassan, a media assistant to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a leader of the NDC and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, confirmed the development on Monday.

Hassan said the defection was formalized at Kwankwaso’s Kano Miller Rose residence.

“Today, Leader Kwankwaso welcomed Mustapha Bala Dawaki, who used to be the Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, to the NDC Kwankwasiyya,” Hassan disclosed on his official Facebook page.

The defection is coming at a time the NDC is trying to reach an agreement on which candidates to chose for different elective posts in Kano State.

It is still not certain if Dawaki will automatically receive a ticket to run for the position in the party.

Political tension has intensified in Bauchi State as Senator Shehu Bubs Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) just days after stepping down from the APC governorship primary.

Buba, who was a leading contender for the governorship ticket, withdrew from the race shortly before the primary election. He said his decision was based on what he described as violations of party rules and the constitution. The senator officially announced his resignation on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

He cited “the absence of internal democracy, lack of fairness, marginalisation” of genuine party members, and what he described as growing disregard for grassroots supporters within the APC.

According to him, his move to PRP followed extensive consultations with political allies, youth groups, women’s groups, stakeholders, and supporters across Bauchi State.

He said PRP offers a platform built on “justice, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and people-oriented leadership”

Buba stressed that leaders must now come together to address national challenges such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and economic hardship.

“Our people deserve better governance, better opportunities, and leadership that truly listens to their concerns. Politics should be about service to humanity, justice, development, and improving the living conditions of the masses,” Buba said.

He also urged his supporters to join him in PRP in order to continue the struggle for good governance and accountability in Bauchi State.

The political crisis did not end with Buba’s exit. Another senator from Bauchi North, Samaila Kaila Dahuwa, also resigned from the APC after losing his return ticket and moved to PRP.

In the House of Representatives, Hon. Rabilu Bala Kashuri also quit the APC after failing to secure the party’s ticket for re-election. He submitted his resignation letter on May 21, 2026, to his ward chairman.

Former deputy governorship candidate in 2023, Hon. Shehu Aliyu Musa, also left the APC. He said his resignation was due to “lack of purposeful leadership, unfair treatment of party members and lack of cohesion among leaders of the party.”

Since the APC governorship primaries were concluded, several other aspirants and party stakeholders have also resigned, accusing the process of lacking transparency and internal democracy.

Former House of Assembly majority leader and aspirant for Katagum Federal Constituency, Hon. Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, also resigned. He said the process was unfair and predetermined.

In his letter, he stated: “I write to formally notify you of my intention to resign my membership of the party (Membership No. APC 051203000049) in your ward, with immediate effect.”

He added: “This decision follows recent developments regarding party activities, particularly the conduct of the 2026 primaries for various elective positions. After careful observation and review, I am convinced that the process was marred by predetermined results, the outright allocation of votes, and non-compliance with the guidelines for the conduct of said primaries.”

Other party members, including Hon. Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, also left the APC, describing the primaries as unfair and undemocratic.

Similarly, Hon. Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye and Hon. Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi resigned, both citing injustice, internal crises, and irregularities within the party.

Many of the aggrieved members insisted that no proper direct primaries were conducted, claiming that candidates were imposed rather than elected through a democratic process.