There are strong backlash against the ruling. All progressive congress, APC, from its lawmakers over indications that at least 50 serving members of the 10th House of Representatives, alongside some incumbent senators, may not return to the National Assembly following the outcome of the APC primaries conducted nationwide ahead of the 2027 general elections. Although the APC is yet to officially release the complete results of the exercises, findings suggest the number of affected lawmakers could rise further.
Many of the legislators reportedly expressed shock at how rapidly political alliances shifted against them during the primaries.
For months, members of the National Assembly had defended controversial reforms, supported executive-backed bills and endured public criticism over difficult economic policies introduced by the Federal Government.
From the removal of fuel subsidy to amendments to the Electoral Act and other fiscal measures, APC lawmakers consistently backed executive proposals despite growing public dissatisfaction over inflation and economic hardship.
However, the ongoing primaries have shown that loyalty to the presidency may not necessarily guarantee political survival.
There are already reports of threats of litigation and quiet protests from aggrieved aspirants who claim the primaries were neither transparent nor fair.
Among prominent lawmakers who lost their return tickets are Nicholas Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in Delta State, and Mike Etaba of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency in Cross River State.
Mutu has served in the House of Representatives since 1999, while Etaba failed in his attempt to secure a fourth term ticket.
Also affected is the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who is among lawmakers not expected to return in the next Assembly.
Similarly, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, lost his bid for a third term in the House.
Cross Rivers
In Cross River State, five out of the eight serving House of Representatives members failed to secure APC tickets.
Those affected include three-term lawmaker Mike Etaba; Alex Egbona, who represents Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency and had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the deadline; Godwin Offiono of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency; Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency; and Bassey Akiba of Odukpani/Calabar Municipality Federal Constituency.
Rivers state
In Rivers State, lawmakers who lost out include retired Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara, Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji Imombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, who currently represent Andoni/Opobo and Asari-Toru federal constituencies respectively.
Delta state
Delta State also recorded major upsets, with Nicholas Mutu and Ngozi Lawrence Okolie losing their return bids. Okolie, who represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, was defeated by former House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu.
Two prominent senators from the state, Ovie Omo-Agege and Ned Nwoko, also failed to secure tickets to return to the Senate after losing in the APC primaries.
Ekiti state
In Ekiti State, three incumbent lawmakers were defeated during the party primaries.
Abiodun Omoleye and Rufus Adeni Ojuawo both lost their bids, while in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, Ibrahim Olanrewaju polled 6,856 votes to defeat the incumbent lawmaker, who secured 2,102 votes.
Enugu
In Enugu State, two Labour Party lawmakers who defected to the APC also failed to secure tickets. They are Paul Nnamdi, representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, and Sunday Umeha of Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.
Ogun
Ogun State witnessed a similar development, with five of the nine serving lawmakers unable to clinch tickets for another term in the House of Representatives.
Among those affected are Ishaq Akinlade of Yewa North/Ipokia Federal Constituency, Deputy Chief Whip Ibrahim Isiaka of Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Tunji Akinosi of Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency and Femi Ogunbanwo of Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu Federal Constituency.
Kogi Senator Draws A battle line
A fresh crisis appears to be brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State after Senator Jibrin Isah, popularly known as Echocho, openly challenged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo following his defeat in the party’s senatorial primary election.
Echocho, who represents Kogi East Senatorial District, issued the warning in a fiery video message that has since gone viral across the state, raising concerns over a possible supremacy battle within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The senator alleged that the APC Senate primary was manipulated from the outset, insisting that no genuine voting took place in his ward and claiming that the results had already been prepared at the Government House before the exercise commenced.
“That result is a nullity, and that result cannot even be announced,” Echocho said angrily.
“I have been very supportive of your administration. I have been very loyal to you and to GYB.
“But since you are now out to fight me, take it from me today, the battle line has been drawn,” he warned.
Teju Okuyiga from Ekiti expresses dissatisfaction
Also reacting to the conduct of the primaries, a member of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Teju Okuyiga, condemned the process, alleging widespread irregularities and non-compliance with party guidelines.
According to him, procedures for delegate accreditation, voting and collation were ignored in several wards during the exercise.
“The electoral process was not followed,” he stated.
“Figures were allocated, and results were announced in several wards where no voting took place. No election in most wards. In a significant number of wards across my three constituencies, there was no voting, no ballot papers, and no opportunity for delegates to exercise their franchise.
“The process was manipulated to disenfranchise supporters and undermine my candidacy as the only female aspirant in this race. This was not an election,” he said.
Ex –REC Igini Forewarned Lawmakers
The controversies surrounding the APC primaries have also revived earlier warnings issued by former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, regarding proposed amendments to the Electoral Act.
Igini had cautioned lawmakers months ago that many of them could lose their seats in 2027 if they failed to ensure mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results in the Electoral Act.
In a statement titled, “Proviso to Real-Time E-Transmission of Polling Unit Results: Why a Majority of Legislators May Not Return in 2027,” Igini urged lawmakers to learn from previous electoral cycles, arguing that loopholes in the legal framework had often been exploited against incumbents.
According to him, earlier National Assemblies ignored structural defects in the electoral process, only to later become victims of those same weaknesses.
“Those earlier Assemblies, for reasons of convenience and party loyalty, refused to address well-documented election rigging vulnerabilities in our electoral laws, like the very proviso now introduced by the Senate, to qualify direct electronic transmission.
“Such lacunae were exploited to subvert polling-unit outcomes during their tenure by those who denied them re-election party tickets, rendering them victims of the very defects they declined to remedy or introduce to the Act.
“A majority of incumbent legislators who were denied re-nomination tickets by party governors and principal officers of their parties, even when they secured alternative platforms thereafter, were ultimately defeated through manipulation of polling unit results during collation processes, despite robust grassroots support they legitimately obtained in their constituencies and won at polling units.
“The 10th Assembly now stands perilously close to replicating this lamentable pattern. Those Members not favoured or not in the good books of their respective State Governors or party leaders will foreseeably be denied tickets and, given the prospects of an unprotected or unsecured electronic transmission of polling unit results, will find it exceedingly difficult to translate constituency endorsement, however strong they may be, into electoral victory,” Igini said.
They Dug Pit For Opposition But Fell into It – Analyst
A communication expert at Peaceland University, Nduka Odo, also criticised lawmakers protesting alleged manipulation of party primaries, arguing that they had become victims of a system they helped to build.
Speaking on the situation, Odo said many lawmakers failed to understand that amendments introduced into the Electoral Act could eventually work against them.
“This is how laws were supposed to be — like a double-edged sword. When laws are made, they affect everyone, including those who made them,” he said.
“They gladly dug pits for the opposition, forgetting that they too could fall into it.”
Odo further argued that lawmakers granted excessive powers to governors through provisions in the Electoral Act without properly considering the consequences.
“They were busy singing, ‘On Your Mandate, We Shall Stand,’ and failed to read and digest the amendment to the Electoral Act,” he added.
The communication scholar also accused both the legislature and judiciary of failing in their constitutional responsibility of checking the excesses of the executive arm of government.
“The three arms of government are designed to check one another, but today the legislature and judiciary are standing on the mandate of the chief executive,” he stated.
He referenced comments allegedly made by Desmond Elliot during the impeachment crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly as evidence of what he described as a “rubber-stamp legislature.”
Despite his criticism, Odo expressed support for the Electoral Act Amendment, insisting that the law would eventually strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and reduce political excesses.
“I like the Electoral Act Amendment. We may not see much of its positive impact now, but in time, we will appreciate its benefits,” he said.
He also advised politicians who lose party primaries to remain loyal to their parties and support the eventual candidates that emerge.
