No fewer than 14 serving members of the House of Representatives have lost their bids to secure return tickets in the All Progressives Congress primaries held across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The primaries produced major upsets in several states, with ranking lawmakers, defectors from opposition parties, and sitting federal legislators losing out in fierce internal contests.
Among the biggest casualties was House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, whose attempt to secure a third term representing Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State ended in defeat.
Ihonvbere lost the APC ticket to former Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai, amid reports of a zoning arrangement between Owan East and Owan West.
Another major upset in Edo State saw Eseosa Iyawe lose the APC ticket for Oredo Federal Constituency to former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu. Iyawe was elected into the House on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting to the APC.
In Imo State, four incumbent lawmakers failed to secure return tickets during the APC primaries. They include:
- Matthew Nwogu — Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala
- Miriam Onuoha — Okigwe South
- Harrison Nwadike — Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele
- Emeka Martins Chinedu — Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency
In Enugu State, the member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Paul Nnamchi, also lost his APC ticket after being defeated by former Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga.
Nnamchi had won his House seat under the Labour Party before defecting to the APC.
If eventually elected in 2027, Edeoga would be returning to the House of Representatives after serving between 1999 and 2003.
Similarly, the member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Cyriacus Umeha, who also defected from the Labour Party to the APC, suffered a heavy defeat in the primaries.
Umeha lost to former Chief of Staff to the former governor of Enugu State, Festus Uzor.
In Kwara State, incumbent lawmaker Ismail Kayode, representing Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa Federal Constituency, lost the APC ticket to former Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye.
Kebbi State also recorded a major upset as serving lawmaker Mansur Musa Jega lost the APC ticket for Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro Federal Constituency following a consensus arrangement that produced former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Jafar Ahmed Jega.
Meanwhile, four serving lawmakers in Jigawa State were also denied return tickets during the primaries. They include:
- Muktar Muhammad — Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi
- Ibrahim Usman Auyo — Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa
- Sa’adu Wada Taura — Ringim/Taura
- Yusif Sa’idu Miga — Jahun/Miga Federal Constituency
The outcome of the APC primaries has triggered major political realignments across several states, particularly affecting lawmakers who recently defected from opposition parties in search of re-election platforms ahead of the 2027 polls.
