APC Primaries Shake-Up: 70 National Assembly Members Fail to Secure Return Tickets

As the final results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the House of Representatives and Senate are still being tallied, at least 70 out of the party’s 330 current lawmakers in the National Assembly will not be returning in 2027. The APC holds 242 seats in the House and 88 in the Senate.

Among those losing their tickets is Rep. Donatus Matthew, known as “Okada Rider,” who had recently defected from the Labour Party (LP) but was disqualified during the APC screening.

Several former LP federal lawmakers who defected to the APC also lost their re-election bids. They include Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).

The list of APC senators who will not return includes Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East), Titus Zam (Benue West), Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), Saliu Mustapha (Kwara), and Ned Nwoko (Delta North).

Due to the new Electoral Act and the May 10 deadline for party membership register submissions, no fewer than 58 Representatives and 12 senators are barred from pursuing their aspirations on another platform.

Protests and Violence The primaries have been marred by protests. Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central) narrowly escaped injury when armed thugs attacked his polling unit. Meanwhile, the APC National Secretariat has reprimanded primary committees for announcing results without central approval.

In Delta State, uncertainty looms over the victories of Senators Ifeanyi Okowa, Ede Dafinone, and Joel Onowakpo-Thomas, as the party's National Working Committee (NWC) retains final say on results.

In Cross River, aspirants insist no primary held in the Central district. Other flashpoints include Benue (where two sitting senators lost), Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, and Ekiti states, with many aspirants rejecting outcomes and alleging imposition and irregularities.n the House and 88 in the Senate. Among those losing their tickets is Rep. Donatus Matthew, known as “Okada Rider,” who had recently defected from the Labour Party (LP) but was disqualified during the APC screening.

Several former LP federal lawmakers who defected to the APC also lost their re-election bids. They include Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).

The list of APC senators who will not return includes Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East), Titus Zam (Benue West), Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), Saliu Mustapha (Kwara), and Ned Nwoko (Delta North).

Due to the new Electoral Act and the May 10 deadline for party membership register submissions, no fewer than 58 Representatives and 12 senators are barred from pursuing their aspirations on another platform.

Protests and Violence The primaries have been marred by protests. Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central) narrowly escaped injury when armed thugs attacked his polling unit. Meanwhile, the APC National Secretariat has reprimanded primary committees for announcing results without central approval.

In Delta State, uncertainty looms over the victories of Senators Ifeanyi Okowa, Ede Dafinone, and Joel Onowakpo-Thomas, as the party's National Working Committee (NWC) retains final say on results.

In Cross River, aspirants insist no primary held in the Central district. Other flashpoints include Benue (where two sitting senators lost), Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, and Ekiti states, with many aspirants rejecting outcomes and alleging imposition and irregularities.