Several serving members of the House of Representatives have failed to get return tickets in the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
One of the notable lawmakers who was affected was the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, whose bid for a third term to represent the Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State failed.
Ihonvbere lost the APC ticket to ex-Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai, under the alleged zoning arrangement between Owan East and Owan West, which affected the outcome of the exercise.
Another serving lawmaker from Edo State, Eseosa Iyawe, also did not clinch the APC ticket for Oredo Federal Constituency.
Ex-Commissioner for Education Dr Paddy Iyamu beat Iyawe.
The lawmaker was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the Labour Party but later defected to the APC during his stay in the Green Chamber.
Political observers say the outcomes of the primaries could reshape the political landscape in Edo ahead of the next general polls.
Four serving lawmakers lost their return tickets at the party primaries in Imo State.
They are the following Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency – Matthew Nwogu; Miriam Onuoha (Okigwe South Federal Constituency); Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele Federal Constituency – Harrison Nwadike; Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency – Emeka Martins Chinedu;
The development has drawn reactions from party supporters in the state, some of whom have pointed fingers at internal political re-alignments and power blocs within the APC for the losses.
Ismail Kayode, the incumbent representative for Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa Federal Constituency in Kwara State, was also affected by the primaries.
Kayode lost the APC ticket to Rafiu Ajakaye, a former Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
In Kebbi State, incumbent lawmaker Mansur Musa Jega also lost the party’s ticket for Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro Federal Constituency.
His death followed an agreement by consensus that saw the former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Jafar Ahmed Jega, emerge as APC candidate.
The APC primaries also saw major upsets in Jigawa State as four serving lawmakers lost their bids to return to the House of Representatives.
The affected lawmakers are Muktar Muhammad representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Usman Auyo of Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency, Sa’adu Wada Taura representing Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency and Yusif Sa’idu Miga of Jahun/Miga Federal Constituency.
