Over 50 Nigerian Lawmakers Lose APC Primaries Amid Controversy

The single sharpest fact emerging from the APC primaries is that no fewer than 50 current members of the 10th House of Representatives won't be in the 11th House. At press time yesterday, no fewer than 48 All Progressives Congress, APC Reps have lost at the primaries held nationwide, over the weekend. Two legislators in Bayelsa didn't join the race because they're seeking higher political offices.

The figures are expected to be higher because APC is yet to release full results of the primaries and other opposition parties, such as the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, among others, are yet to hold their primaries.

House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas (Kano), and his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu(Abia), led legislators who won APC return tickets. Leading lawmakers who lost re-election tickets of the APC include Nicholas Mutu(Bomadi/Patani, Delta State, who has been in the House since 1999, and Mike Etaba(Obubra/Etung, Cross River), who missed his fourth term ticket.

Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the Majority Leader of the House Representatives, is among the non-returning legislators. Ihonvbere lost the APC ticket for Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State, in Saturday’s primaries. He polled 1,005 votes out of the 7,587 votes cast and came third in the exercise won by Andrew Ijegbia, who got 3,695 votes.

The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, lost his bid for a third term. Results announced by the returning officer, Daspan Ishaya, showed that Dr. John Tongshinen recorded a total of 29,968 votes in the exercise, while Gagdi had less than 6000 votes.

Those who returned in Borno are Usman Zannah (Gubio/Kaga/Magumeri), Betara Aliyu (Biu/Shani/Kwaya Kusar/Bayo), Kadiri Rahis (Maiduguri Metropolitan Council), Satomi Ahmed (Jere), Bukar Talba (Marte/Monguno/Nganzai), and Ahmed Jaha (Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa).

Newly elected candidates include Hajja Fati Kakenna (Kukawa/Abadam/Mobbar/Guzamala), Dr. Kaumi Umara Zulum (Mafa/Konduga/Dikwa), Mustapha Abdullahi Babani (Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge), while Tarpaya Asarya (Askira-Uba/Hawul) was inconclusive.

Surprises in South-South The primaries produced some surprises across South-South states, as several incumbent members were denied return tickets. In Bayelsa State, two incumbent members retained the party tickets in Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opukuma federal constituency, which is Governor Douye Diri’s constituency. In Southern Ijaw federal constituency, Engr. Rodney Ambaiowei, the incumbent member, also won.

In Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Candidate: Bernard Kenebai, a new entrant and current member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, emerged victorious because the incumbent Rep Fred Agbedi, a ranking member, chose to stick with the PDP, where he's aspiring for Bayelsa West Senate seat. In Ogbia Federal Constituency, Jude Rex Ogbuku won as the incumbent Rep Matema Obodor of the PDP refused to defect alongside Governor Douye Diri to the APC.

For Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency, Jonathan Robinson Obuebite clinched the APC ticket. The incumbent member, Marie Ebikake, also chose to remain in the PDP to contest the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

Mass failure in Cross River In Cross River State, five of the eight serving Reps lost out. Among those denied tickets are lawmakers with multiple terms in the National Assembly. They include three-term member, Mike Etaba, representing Obubra/Etung, who didn't get a ticket. Two-term member, Alex Egbona, representing Abi/Yakurr, who defected to the PDP before the deadline, also lost. One-term member, Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency, didn't win. One-term member, Emil Inyang, representing Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency, lost too. One-term member, Bassey Akiba, representing Odukpani/Calabar Municipality, didn't get a ticket either.

Three serving Reps, who got return tickets, included one-term member, Peter Akpanke, Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku, one-term member, Joseph Bassey, Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South, and one-term member, Victor Abang, representing Ikom/Boki.

In Akwa Ibom, though the APC hasn't officially announced results, underground reports have it that only Okpolupum Etteh, who represented Eket/Esit Ekit/Ibeno Federal Constituency, lost out. In Rivers State, those who lost out include John Azubuike Opara, Air Commodore, retd, Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji Imombek Abiante, and Boma Goodhead, who's currently representing Andoni/Opobo and Asari-Toru federal constituencies respectively in the House of Representatives.

In Delta State, incumbent losers are Nicholas Mutu, Bomadi/Patani, and Ngozi Lawrence Okolie, who lost Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency to former House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu. In Ekiti State, three incumbent lawmakers crashed out during the party primaries. Ekiti Central federal constituency II, Oladapo Karounwi, polled 6,573 votes to defeat the incumbent, Abiodun Omoleye, who scored 2,096 votes.

Teju Okuyiga, APC aspirant in Ekiti State, said, 'The electoral process wasn't followed. Party guidelines for delegate accreditation, voting, and collation were openly disregarded in multiple wards. Figures were allocated, and results were announced in several wards where no voting took place. No election took place in most wards.'

In the same vein, Teju Okuyiga polled 1,032 votes, while the incumbent, Richard Bamisile, polled 4,379 votes to reclaim the ticket. Okuyiga expressed dissatisfaction with the exercise, saying the process was manipulated to disenfranchise supporters and undermine her candidacy as the only female aspirant in this race.

In Ogun State, five of the nine serving lawmakers failed to secure tickets to return to the Green Chamber, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Among those who lost their bids were Ishaq Akinlade of Yewa North/Ipokia Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Isiaka, representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency and serving as Deputy Chief Whip, Tunji Akinosi of Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, and Femi Ogunbanwo of Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu Federal Constituency.

Tension in Ondo APC In Ondo State, tension is brewing in the APC after the seven-member National Assembly Primary Election Committee failed to announce the results of last Saturday’s House of Representatives primaries. Party sources said disagreements among committee members stalled the process.

The panel, led by Iboroma Harry Dabibi, is said to be under pressure to declare certain aspirants winners, including some earlier disqualified by the party. A source, who spoke in confidence, explained that the crisis forced the committee’s secretary, Adamu Mohammed Shamaki, and two other members to return to Abuja.

Results delayed in Osun The results of the primary election in Osun State are yet to be announced as the Chairman of the committee, Mr Bayo Ayo, said the results from various local government councils are still being collated. The outcome of the result in some federal constituencies is already clear, as the candidates were only affirmed, including in Ijesa-South federal constituency, where Mr Sanya Omirin emerged as the consensus candidate.

The APC primaries have brought significant changes to the party's lineup for the 2027 general elections. The party is yet to release full results, and other opposition parties are yet to hold their primaries, so the number of lawmakers who lost their bid to return to the 11th House is expected to rise. The controversy surrounding the primaries, with allegations of irregularities and disenfranchisement, has raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.

As the APC and other parties continue to navigate the complexities of their primaries, the people of Nigeria are left to wonder what the future holds for the country's leadership. The APC primaries have shown that no one is guaranteed a spot in the next House of Representatives, and that the will of the people will ultimately prevail.

The APC must now work to address the concerns of its members and the Nigerian people, ensuring that the electoral process is fair and transparent. The party's ability to do so will be crucial in determining its success in the 2027 general elections.

In the end, the APC primaries have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable election season in Nigeria. As the country moves forward, it's clear that the people of Nigeria will be watching closely, and they will demand nothing but the best from their leaders. The APC primaries have provided a significant amount of information about the party's internal dynamics, and it's likely that this information will be used to inform future decisions. The party's leadership will need to carefully consider the results of the primaries and the concerns of its members in order to move forward in a positive direction.