The Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and his deputy Senator Jubril Barau have both won the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and Kano North Senatorial District, respectively, in the 2027 general election.
Akpabio was returned unopposed as the sole candidate of the APC in the senatorial district.
According to his Media Office, the Senate President took part in the primary election at his Ward Centre at Methodist School Ukana, Ukana West 11, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
His affirmation as the APC flagbearer was witnessed by party faithful who trooped out en masse for the exercise on Saturday.
The statement reads, “Although he was the only aspirant, his kinmen trooped out to the Ward Centre to support their son whom they said had given them effective representation in all the previous offices he had held having served as Commissioner, Governor, Minority Leader of the Senate, Minister and presently the President of the 10th Senate.
“The venue wore the look of a carnival with party faithful singing and dancing to herald the election. Party members described the exercise as peaceful, orderly, and transparent, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, civil society groups, and other stakeholders monitored the process.
“The Returning Officer, Mr Gabriel Ekong acknowledged the massive turn out of party members and thanked them for conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
“Other APC stakeholders said Akpabio’s support base further strengthened the ruling party’s preparations ahead of the general elections, especially as the APC intensifies consultations and mobilization efforts across the state.”
Responding, Akpabio expressed appreciation to party members for the confidence reposed in him and assured constituents of continued quality representation and effective leadership at the National Assembly.
The Senate President also reaffirmed his commitment to advancing development initiatives, promoting unity within the party, and supporting the policies of the APC-led Federal Government for the benefit of the people.
On the other hand, at exactly 2:20 p.m., the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee for the Kano North Senatorial Primary Election, Hon. Shehu Isa Direba, asked party members to affirm Senator Barau as the APC candidate for the district.
Similarly, the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Elections Committee for Kano State, Hon. Musa Yahaya, also sought the endorsement of party members, who unanimously affirmed Senator Barau as the party’s candidate for the January 16 National Assembly election.
Speaking after the exercise, the leader of the INEC monitoring team, Mr Abdulrahman Haruna, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the process.
In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf, commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, the governor expressed confidence that the people of Kano North would overwhelmingly vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abba, Senator Barau, and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
“We are happy. Kano North is for APC at all times. We are one family in APC. Insha Allah, before noon on election day, Senator Barau will secure his seat, while President Tinubu and all our candidates will emerge victorious,” he said, while praying for peaceful elections in 2027.
Responding, Senator Barau thanked party members for their confidence in him through their overwhelming support and assured them of continued effective representation.
“Let me begin by thanking Almighty Allah for making my nomination possible. I also wish to appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his leadership of the APC and the nation at large. He is doing extremely well, and we cannot thank him enough.
“I also thank our hardworking Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for the remarkable work he is doing to reposition Kano State. He is working tirelessly to actualise his vision for the state. I hope together with his deputy, Murtala Sule Garo, he will bring tremendous development to our state, Kano,” he said.
Senator Barau urged the people of Kano State to vote all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
