Ahmed Lawan.webp
Summary

No fewer than 12 serving senators have signaled their intent to seek governorship seats in the 2027 elections, intensifying grassroots mobilization following INEC's release of the election timetable. Party primaries are scheduled to run from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Here are the senators in the race:

Kwara State (All Three Senators)
  1. Lola Ashiru (Kwara South, APC) – Deputy Senate Leader; has publicly declared his bid, emphasizing credentials and experience.
  2. Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central, APC) – Chairs Senate Committee on Agriculture; intensifying community mobilization and empowerment programmes.
  3. Umar Sadiq Suleiman (Kwara North, APC) – Rounding out the trio of Kwara senators all seeking to succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Ogun State
  1. Adeola Solomon Olamilekan (Yayi) (Ogun West, APC) – Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations; pursuing long-held ambition through massive empowerment programmes across Ogun West, with reported N3 billion spent on initiatives.
Nasarawa State
  1. Aliyu Wadada (APC, formerly SDP) – Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts; defected from SDP to APC; billboards already dotting the state.
  2. Mohammed Onawo (Nasarawa South) – Former House of Representatives member; mentioned as interested but no public declaration yet.
Bauchi State
  1. Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP) – Former House of Representatives Leader; rallying PDP structures and youth groups.
  2. Shehu Buba Umar (Bauchi South, APC) – Seeking APC ticket for same position.
Oyo State
  1. Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North, APC) – Stated on radio he will not return to Senate in 2027; wants to replace Governor Seyi Makinde.
  2. Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South, APC) – Using ICT training, PoS distribution, and farm inputs to woo voters.
Kano State
  1. Barau Jibrin (Kano North, APC) – Deputy Senate President; grounded grassroots politician with programmes covering education, sports, and business development. Path complicated by Governor Abba Yusuf's recent defection to APC.
Yobe State
  1. Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North, APC) – Former Senate President; rumored interest through humanitarian gestures and interventions, though no public declaration yet.

As INEC's 2027 timetable ticks down, a dozen senators from across Nigeria are trading legislative chambers for governorship ambitions, setting the stage for fierce intra-party battles that will reshape state leadership.

Sources: INEC Timetable, Senatorial Declarations