APC House of Reps Primaries Marred by Violence, Disputes, and Upsets

The APC primaries for the House of Representatives, which were concluded on Saturday, were marked by violence, disputes, and upsets in several states. One of the most notable upsets was in Plateau, where incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi failed to secure the party's ticket for another term. Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, was defeated by John Tonshinen in the closely contested primary election.

In Ondo State, the APC invited dissatisfied aspirants to submit their complaints to the party's Primary Appeal Committee. This comes after the primaries were overshadowed by disputes in states like Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, and Niger. The State Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, said the committee would sit at the party secretariat along Olu Obasanjo Road in Akure to hear petitions from aggrieved House of Representatives aspirants. They're expecting many complaints, and they won't tolerate any irregularities.

In Ekiti State, the APC declared the primary election in Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency inconclusive following violence in some voting centres. The Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Asipa Wasiu, said the process couldn't be completed due to 'pockets of crisis'. The APC National Working Committee (NWC) will determine the next course of action. It's clear that the committee can't make a decision without the NWC's input.

Yet, despite the disruption, winners emerged in five other constituencies. Incumbent lawmaker Steve Olusola Fatoba won the Ekiti Central I ticket with 8,943 votes. Oladapo Karounwi defeated incumbent Abiodun Omoleye in Ekiti Central II, polling 6,573 votes to 2,096. In Ekiti South I, Okoro Toyin Zaccheaus scored 9,798 votes to defeat incumbent Rufus Adeni Ojuawo, who polled 1,842 votes. These results show that the APC still has strong support in Ekiti State.

'I want to let the world know that the election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere,' said Wahab Owokoniran, Chairman of the Election Committee in Rivers State. 'We didn't experience any form of rancour, infighting, or any problem whatsoever.' This statement suggests that the election in Rivers State was well-organized.

In Rivers State, several politicians aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secured APC tickets. Among the winners was Martins Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who clinched the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency ticket with 17,968 votes. Incumbent lawmaker Dumnamene Dekor retained the Gokana/Khana ticket, defeating Israel Ngbuelo by 17,073 votes to 1,220. They're likely to win their respective seats in the general election.

The APC primaries are part of the ruling party's broader strategy to select candidates for the 2027 general elections. The party has scheduled Senate primaries and other nomination exercises to continue in the coming days. As the party navigates the complexities of its internal elections, the outcome will affect its chances in the general elections. It's unlikely that the party won't face challenges, but they're prepared to overcome them.

In Katsina State, a former aspirant for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency, Ahmed Saleh, alleged that security operatives detained him for more than 24 hours to prevent him from participating in the primary election. Saleh claimed the detention was carried out on the directive of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda. Despite his absence, he secured 1,256 votes, while the governor's Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development, Jamila Mani, won the contest with 24,989 votes. This incident raises concerns about the fairness of the election.

Across the country, several notable politicians emerged as APC candidates. In Katsina, Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the Daura Federal Constituency ticket. In Kaduna State, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas secured the Zaria Federal Constituency ticket unopposed. Former lawmaker Samaila Suleiman won the Kaduna North ticket, while several other candidates emerged across the state. They're all likely to play important roles in the general election.

The APC primaries for the House of Representatives were concluded on Saturday. The exercise was marked by violence, disputes, and upsets in several states. Incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi failed to secure the party's ticket for another term in Plateau. The APC declared the primary election in Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency inconclusive in Ekiti State. Several politicians aligned with Nyesom Wike secured APC tickets in Rivers State. These facts show that the APC primaries were highly competitive.

The outcome of the APC primaries will have significant implications for the 2027 general elections. As the party prepares to face off against its opponents, it will need to navigate the challenges that have emerged from its internal elections. With the Senate primaries and other nomination exercises scheduled to continue in the coming days, the APC will need to ensure that its candidates are united and ready to face the challenges ahead. It won't be easy, but they're determined to succeed.

In Niger State, some constituencies witnessed protests over alleged attempts to impose candidates. The Gurara/Tafa/Suleja and Shiroro primaries were reportedly stalled following disagreements among party members. Similarly, in Kebbi State, supporters of Bashar Suleman Bajida protested the emergence of incumbent lawmaker Kabir Ibrahim Tukura in the Zuru/Fakai/Sakaba/Danko Wasagu Federal Constituency, alleging that some party executives compromised the process. These incidents show that the APC still has internal conflicts to resolve.

As the APC continues to navigate the complexities of its internal elections, the outcome will affect its chances in the general elections. With the party's candidates emerging in different states, it's clear that the road to the 2027 general elections will be marked by intense competition and controversy. The APC won't have it easy, but they're prepared to face the challenges.

In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru described the primaries as peaceful and orderly. Addressing concerns over members who resigned to pursue political ambitions, the governor said their decisions were in line with democratic principles. 'Those who are contesting are acting in line with democratic ideals,' he said. 'Our joy is that today's exercise went as planned and as expected. It was very peaceful and calm.' The governor's statement suggests that the APC is committed to democratic principles.

Among the winners in Ebonyi State were Chinedu Ogah, who won the Ikwo/Ezza South ticket, Iduma Igariwey, who won the Afikpo/Edda ticket, and Nkemkanma Kama, who won the Ohanivo Federal Constituency ticket. The peaceful conduct of the primaries in Ebonyi State is a positive sign for the APC, which has been working to strengthen its presence in the state. They're likely to win more seats in the general election.

As the APC looks to the future, it will need to build on the momentum generated by its primaries. With the party's candidates emerging in different states, it's clear that the APC is poised to make a strong showing in the 2027 general elections. However, the party will need to navigate the challenges that have emerged from its internal elections and ensure that its candidates are united and ready to face the challenges ahead. It won't be easy, but they're determined to succeed.

The APC's ability to manage its internal conflicts and emerge stronger will be crucial in the coming months. As the party prepares to face off against its opponents, it will need to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles and its ability to put the interests of the party and the country above individual ambitions. They can't afford to fail, or they'll lose the general election.

In the end, the outcome of the APC primaries will have significant implications for the 2027 general elections. As the party looks to the future, it will need to build on the momentum generated by its primaries and ensure that its candidates are united and ready to face the challenges ahead. The APC won't have it easy, but they're prepared to face the challenges and emerge victorious.