NEWS
APC Primaries Rock National Assembly as Over 70 Lawmakers, Defected LP Members Lose Return Tickets Amid Violence, Protests, Petitions and Leadership Crisis Across States
The ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primaries have thrown Nigeria’s political landscape into fresh turbulence, with no fewer than 70 serving lawmakers set to lose their seats ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as protests, violence, petitions and allegations of manipulation continue to trail the exercise across several states.
While the final results of the House of Representatives and Senate primaries are still being awaited, the development has already sent shockwaves through the ruling party, particularly as several high-profile lawmakers, including former Labour Party members who defected to the APC, failed to secure return tickets.
The APC currently controls 242 seats in the House of Representatives and 88 seats in the Senate, with most lawmakers seeking re-election. However, emerging outcomes from the primaries indicate that dozens of lawmakers may not return to the National Assembly in 2027.
Among the prominent casualties is Rep Donatus Matthew, popularly known as “Okada Rider,” who was elected under the Labour Party platform to represent Kaura Constituency in Kaduna State before defecting to the APC. Despite his defection, he was disqualified during the APC screening process, effectively ending his re-election ambition under the party.
Other former Labour Party federal lawmakers who crossed over to the APC but lost their return tickets include Esosa Iyawe of Oredo Federal Constituency in Edo State, Senator Neda Imasuen of Edo South, Tochukwu Okere of Imo State, Bassey Akiba of Cross River State and Daulyop Fom of Plateau State.
Several serving APC senators also lost out during the primaries, withdrew from the race or stepped down. Those affected include Senators Gbenga Daniel of Ogun East, Diket Plang of Plateau Central, Osita Izunaso of Imo West, Emmanuel Udende of Benue North-East, Titus Zam of Benue West, Olubiyi Fadeyi of Osun Central, Saliu Mustapha of Kwara and Ned Nwoko of Delta North.
Reports indicate that, subject to ratification by the APC national leadership, no fewer than 58 members of the House of Representatives and 12 senators will not return to the National Assembly. The situation has become more complicated because the new Electoral Act and party guidelines have effectively shut the door against affected aspirants seeking alternative party platforms after the May 10 deadline for submission of party membership registers.
VIOLENCE, CHAOS AND PROTESTS TRAIL APC PRIMARIES
As the APC prepares for governorship primaries, discontent and tension have continued to spread across the country, with many aspirants openly rejecting the conduct and outcome of the exercises.
One of the most dramatic incidents occurred in Ondo State where Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, representing Ondo Central, narrowly escaped harm after armed thugs reportedly attacked him and his supporters during the senatorial primary election at Okilisa Ward 5 in Akure.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that gunmen stormed the venue and opened fire after it became obvious that Adegbonmire was leading in the vote count. The attack triggered panic as delegates, party officials, journalists and supporters fled for safety, while some women reportedly sustained injuries during the commotion.
The incident also disrupted activities at the nearby Ebenezer Primary School as frightened parents rushed to evacuate their children over fears of stray bullets.
Security operatives later intervened and evacuated the senator from the venue, forcing a temporary suspension of the exercise.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Adegbonmire condemned the process, describing it as a “complete charade” and accusing political opponents of orchestrating violence and intimidation against his supporters across Ondo Central.
“My supporters were about 400 and there were three lines — mine in the middle, Taiwo Fasoranti on the right and Adu’s on the left. They started counting my line first because it was the longest.
“But while they were counting the other line and it became glaring that we were leading, thugs invaded the place, started shooting in the air and even shot at my car,” he said.
Another aspirant in the Ondo Central senatorial race, Olumuyiwa Adu, also rejected the process, alleging that armed thugs hijacked the primaries and imposed candidates on party members.
CONFUSION DEEPENS IN DELTA APC PRIMARIES
In Delta State, uncertainty has continued to surround the outcome of the Senate primaries after the APC national leadership faulted the actions of state primary committees for announcing winners directly from state collation centres.
APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, explained that the National Working Committee had directed that only the party’s national headquarters in Abuja was empowered to officially declare final results.
According to him, results announced at the state level remained provisional pending final review by the party leadership.
“The circular signed by the National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, was to the effect that results would and may be declared and collated but the final announcement of the results would be done at the National Headquarters,” Basiru stated.
He further explained that the process was designed to allow the party address complaints and petitions before making final declarations on winners and losers.
The development has created uncertainty around the reported victories of Senators Ifeanyi Okowa, Ede Dafinone and Joel Onowakpo-Thomas in Delta State, with rival camps now waiting for the final decision of the APC National Working Committee.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primaries Appeal Committee for Delta State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam, disclosed that the committee had already received five petitions from aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders challenging the conduct of the primaries.
CROSS RIVER ASPIRANTS REJECT RESULTS, INSIST NO ELECTION HELD
In Cross River State, controversy intensified after two aspirants for the Cross River Central Senatorial District, Senator Eteng Jones Williams and Ms. Mary Ekpere, rejected results circulating online, insisting that no primary election took place in any of the 66 wards across the district.
The aspirants described the purported results as fabricated and capable of causing division within the APC.
Senator Williams maintained that his team monitored all wards and confirmed that voting never took place anywhere in the district.
Ms. Mary Ekpere also expressed frustration over what she described as unfair treatment by the party leadership.
“As an aspirant, I neither saw the electoral materials nor was allowed to cast a vote for myself. We are all members of this party and Governor Bassey Otu’s children. We only ask to be treated fairly and equally,” she said.
ABDULRAZAQ EMERGES UNOPPOSED IN KWARA
Amid the controversies rocking the primaries nationwide, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq emerged unopposed in the APC primary for the Kwara Central Senatorial seat.
The APC State Working Committee confirmed that the official declaration would be made by the party’s national secretariat alongside results of the House of Representatives primaries.
Prior to the exercise, Senator Saliu Mustapha had publicly declared support for AbdulRazaq’s ambition and called for peaceful primaries.
TARABA SENATORS RETAIN TICKETS AS TENSION PERSISTS
In Taraba State, Senators David Jimkuta and Haruna Manu successfully secured APC tickets to seek re-election for Taraba South and Taraba Central respectively.
Jimkuta polled 29,880 votes to defeat two other aspirants, while Haruna Manu enjoyed a relatively smooth victory after his major challenger, Babangida Nguroje, stepped down from the race.
However, tension reportedly remains high in Taraba North where results are yet to be officially released.
MIXED FORTUNES IN OSUN APC PRIMARIES
In Osun State, Senator Francis Fadahunsi clinched victory in the Osun-East Senatorial primary, while Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi lost his bid to secure the APC ticket for Osun Central.
The APC primary election committee also announced victories for several House of Representatives aspirants across the state through either consensus arrangements or direct contests.
BENUE SENATORS SUFFER HEAVY DEFEATS
Benue State also recorded major upsets as two serving APC senators lost their return tickets in dramatic fashion.
Senator Titus Zam of Benue North-West finished third in the primary election after polling only 2,763 votes, while retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Benjamin Aber, emerged victorious with 93,412 votes.
In Benue North-East, former Governor Gabriel Suswam staged a political comeback by defeating incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende with a landslide margin.
SUSWAM POLLED 131,083 VOTES AGAINST UDENDE’s 1,374 VOTES.
Both lawmakers have since rejected the results, alleging manipulation and predetermined outcomes.
KADUNA AND KOGI PRIMARIES SPARK FRESH CRISIS
In Kaduna State, the campaign council of former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, rejected the outcome of the Kaduna Central Senatorial primary, insisting that no valid election took place across the zone.
Similarly, tension erupted at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as stakeholders from Kogi Central protested against the participation of former Governor Yahaya Bello in the senatorial primary election.
The protesters accused the party of violating its own rules and alleged that Bello was never cleared by the APC screening committee before participating in the exercise.
The protesters further demanded the cancellation of the election, describing the entire process as lacking credibility and transparency.
With petitions piling up, allegations of violence escalating and uncertainty surrounding final declarations, the APC National Assembly primaries have exposed deep cracks within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.