2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kebbi State

Observers view the APC senatorial primary as a continuation of the battle between the preexisting major factions of the Kebbi State APC with one faction led by Aliero and the other faction led by outgoing Governor (and senatorial candidate) Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. In the gubernatorial primary, Aliero backed the candidacy of Kebbi North Senator Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi while Bagudu eventually supported union leader Nasir Idris. As Bagudu was a serving governor, his faction was recognized by the national party in February 2022 but the internal rift continued as Bagudu and Aliero jostled for the senatorial ticket.[13] A few hours before the primary, Aliero withdrew in a letter alleging that the delegate list had been handpicked by Bagudu to rig the primary in his favour.[14] In the primary, Bagudu was nominated unanimously; he thanked delegates in his acceptance speech.[15] Aliero left the APC a few days later.[16]

On the original primary date, an indirect primary in Birnin Kebbi resulted in Haruna Saidu—former Kebbi State PDP Chairman—being nominated unopposed.[23] However, in the wake of Aliero's defection, the state party annulled the original primary and held a new exercise on 9 June where Aliero defeated Saidu by a wide margin.[24] Saidu protested and sued against the new primary, claiming that he never withdrew as nominee and thus the second primary was invalid.[25] In response, the state PDP expelled Saidu for taking the party to court over the issue and alleged forgery.[26][27] However, a High Court ruled in favor of Saidu based on the fact that he had not withdrawn from the nomination thus making the rerun primary illegitimate.[28] In early November, Aliero appealed the ruling at an Appeal Court sitting in Sokoto;[29] the court ruled against Aliero later that month.[30] However, Aliero's appeal to the Supreme Court was successful with its 30 January ruling reinstating him as the legitimate nominee.[31]

Media described the Bagudu vs. Aliero race as a potentially definitive decider on the preeminent political godfather of Kebbi State.[32][33] However, the court ruling that declared Saidu as the PDP nominee changed the dynamics of the race. By December, after Aliero lost his appeal, pundits began to question if his political career was over.[34] However, Aliero's appeal to the Supreme Court was successful with its 30 January ruling reinstating him as the legitimate nominee.[31]

In the primary resulted in the nomination of former MHR Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa. Suleiman Kangiwa was unopposed as his sole opponent—former Governor Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari—withdrew just before the primary.[15]

On the original primary date, an indirect primary resulted in former MHR Ibrahim Bawa Kamba being nominated over fellow former MHR Sani Bawa Arugungu by a wide margin.[23] However, the PDP later nominated incumbent Abdullahi after he joined the party.

While noting the ongoing litigation between Bawa Kamba and Abdullahi over the PDP nomination, reporting from The Nation in December gave the edge to Suleiman Kangiwa due to the APC's structural advantages in the district.[39]

The primary, held at the Zuru Town Hall in Zuru, resulted in the renomination of Na'allah as he defeated two challengers—Shehu Muazu and Sule-Iko Sami. After the primary, Na'allah thanked the delegates and pledged to win the general election.[40]

The primary resulted in the nomination of Garba Musa Maidoki unopposed.[23]