Meet serving APC Reps who lost return tickets

The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries across Nigeria on Saturday produced a mix of results with far-reaching political implications. The exercise, which is the first among other primaries in the ruling party, was marked by political consolidation and surprising defeats that reshaped the party’s internal balance ahead of the 2027 general elections. […]

The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries across Nigeria on Saturday produced a mix of results with far-reaching political implications.

The exercise, which is the first among other primaries in the ruling party, was marked by political consolidation and surprising defeats that reshaped the party’s internal balance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While some lawmakers tightened their grip on power by securing return tickets for fourth and fifth terms, others saw their ambitions collapse in humiliating fashion despite incumbency and influence.

From heavyweight and hitherto influential federal lawmakers to first-time entrants, engineered by many of the governor’s strategic endorsements, the primaries delivered winners and casualties.

 

Nicholas Mutu

One of the major losers of the APC primaries is Nicholas Mutu, a lawmaker who has been representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State since 1999. He lost the ticket to Barr. Basil Okolobaowei Ganagana, who emerged as the party’s flagbearer in the constituency.

One of the indications that Mutu was on his way out emerged last week when one of his constituents told him in clear terms that it was time to bid the chamber farewell.

“He hardly ever makes contributions of any kind at plenary or even committee sessions, and generally just occupies space, to the annoyance of his colleagues. How do you have a man in the parliament for a full generation of nearly 30 years without ever introducing a bill, sponsoring a motion or making contributions to national discourse? Indolence alone cannot fully explain such a catastrophic failure. A near absolute lack of capacity is what we have and are witnessing in the poor performance of Nicholas Mutu in the house,” the aggrieved constituent, Dr Eyiseifa Ebiowe, had said.

 

Julius Ihonvbre

One of the most humiliating defeats is that of House Majority Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere. He failed to get his party ticket for Owan Federal Constituency (Owan East/Owan West).

His loss surprised many people in the party because he is one of the top leaders in the House of Representatives. It showed that even powerful lawmakers can lose support inside their own party at the constituency level.

 

2 incumbent Reps lost in Kogi

Six of the nine serving lawmakers at the green chamber from Kogi State clinched the APC ticket in the Saturday primary election for the House of Representatives, two lost while one did not participate in the exercise.

In a statement on Sunday by the Kogi state Publicity Secretary of the party, Engr. Hamzat I. Isa-Amoka, two of the serving lawmakers lost the ticket to their rival party members in the contest, while the third lawmaker did not contest.

While David Zachariya (Igalamela/ Idah) and Tijani Ahmed Ozigi (Okene /Ogori-Magongo) contested and lost, Abdulmaleek Abdulraheem Danga(Okehi/Adavi) abstained from the contest.

The new entrants in the race are: Sanni Salau Ogembe(Okene/Ogori-Magongo); Engr. Muhammed Ahovi Yusuf(Adavi/Okehi) and Victor Omale Ojogbane(Idah/Igalamela/Ofu/Ibaji) beat the three incumbent lawmakers to the ticket.

 

4 Reps lose in Ekiti

In Ekiti South 1, as an aspirant, Mr Okoro Toyin Zaccheaus, defeated the incumbent House of Representatives member, Hon. Rufus Ojuawo, and another contestant.

Also, the consensus did not favour three out of 10 incumbent House of Representatives members, who were replaced by new candidates.

Aside from Zaccheaus, serving members who are not returning include Hon. Lawan Malam Gana Kareto, Hon Ibrahim Mohammed Bukar and Hon Zainab Gimba.

 

Deputy Chief Whip defeated in Ogun

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Ibrahim Isiaka, who is also seeking a fourth term, lost the ticket to the immediate past Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye.

Daily Trust gathered that Isiaka, who had been under pressure from party leaders, stepped down from the race at the last minute to allow Adeleye, a two-time member of the State House of Assembly, to emerge.

Adeleye had been adopted by the APC leaders in the federal constituency as the consensus candidate.

There have been agitations of power shifts within the federal constituency, which consists of two LGAs – Ifo and Ewekoro.

Isiaka, who hails from Ewekoro, has occupied the seat for three terms, but his fourth-term bid triggered outrage and demand for a power shift to Ifo, the largest of the local governments. The new APC candidate hails from Ifo.

 

2 reps fail to secure return tickets in Nasarawa

Two sitting House of Representatives members, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Speaker Danladi Jatau, and Mohamed Nuraini Abdullahi Adamu, son of former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, were among the high-profile aspirants defeated in the APC primaries in Nasarawa.

The Nasarawa State chapter of the APC declared winners in four of its five federal constituencies. The results were announced by the Nasarawa State National Assembly APC Primary Elections Committee, chaired by Musa Shuaibu Guri, in Lafia.

In Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency, Daniel Ogazi defeated Speaker Danladi Jatau, Nuraini and another aspirant, Joseph M. Kaura.

Two incumbent lawmakers also lost their bids to return to the House. In Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, two-term member, Ari Abdulmumin Muhammad, was defeated by Mohammed Al-Bashir Babae Yarima.

In Akwanga/Wamba/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency, an incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Jeremia Umaru, lost to Tony Bala Shammah.

By Taiwo George, Abuja; Tijani Labaran, Lokoja; Abubakar Abdullahi, Lafia; Raphael Ogbonnaiye, Ado-Ekiti