After taking office as party chair, Adamu resigned from the Senate in April 2022 in a move that left the West district open for the remainder of the term.

The Nasarawa North Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Akwanga, Eggon, and Wamba.

The disagreement intensified into a subtle cold war when Adamu resigned from the Senate to become APC National Chairman in March 2022 and gained extensive power over the party at-large leading to rumours that he was planning on replacing Al-Makura and Akwashiki with closer allies.

[14][15] Although Al-Makura ended up unopposed in his primary, Akwashiki was targeted as Danladi Halilu Envulu'Anza announced his candidacy.

The Nasarawa South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Awe, Doma, Keana, Lafia and Obi.

In the years before the primary, the state APC underwent a dispute between Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Al-Makura; the disagreement intensified into a when Adamu became APC National Chairman in March 2022 and gained extensive power over the party at-large leading to rumours that he was planning on replacing Al-Makura with a closer ally.

Overall, the newspaper labeled the race as a "50/50" between Onawo and Al-Makura while noting the potential effects of Musa Abdullahi (NNPP) and Adamu Muazu Allu (SDP).

[36] On the primary date, the exercise was disrupted and later postponed due to a group of Magaji-supporting protesters decrying the altered delegate list.

[38] However, Magaji immediately rejected the results and launched a legal challenge based on the delegate list scandal amid further party crisis.

[42] Although the state APC set the new primary date as 12 November, Tukur appealed the High Court ruling leading the rerun to be postponed.