Several serving members of Nigeria’s House of Reps failed to secure return tickets during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries conducted across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the notable casualties was the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, whose bid for a third term to represent 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.
Also in Edo State, Eseosa Iyawe lost the APC ticket for Oredo Federal Constituency to former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu. Iyawe, who was originally elected on the platform of the Labour Party, later defected to the APC during his time in the Green Chamber.
In Imo State, four incumbent lawmakers were denied return tickets during the party primaries. They include Matthew Nwogu, representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency; Miriam Onuoha of Okigwe South; Harrison Nwadike, representing Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele Federal Constituency; and Emeka Martins Chinedu of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.
Similarly, Ismail Kayode, the incumbent representative for Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa Federal Constituency in Kwara State, lost the APC ticket to former Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye.
In Kebbi State, Mansur Musa Jega failed to clinch 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, as the party’s candidate.
Jigawa State also recorded setbacks for four serving lawmakers during the primaries. Those affected are Muktar Muhammad, representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency; Ibrahim Usman Auyo of Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency; Sa’adu Wada Taura of Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency; and Yusif Sa’idu Miga, representing Jahun/Miga Federal Constituency.
In Delta State, longtime federal lawmaker Nicholas Mutu suffered a major upset after failing to secure the APC ticket for Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency. Mutu, who has represented the constituency in the House of Representatives since 1999, lost the party’s ticket to Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Basil Okolobaowei Ganagana, who emerged as the APC flagbearer for the 2027 elections.