The All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its House of Representatives primaries across several states ahead of the 2027 general elections, producing a mixture of victories, controversies and political upsets.
The exercise, which was shifted from Friday to Saturday, witnessed the emergence of consensus candidates in some constituencies, while violence, protests and allegations of manipulation disrupted the process in others.
Although many aspirants emerged victorious without major incidents, disputes were recorded in states including Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina and Niger.
In Ondo State, the APC directed aggrieved aspirants to submit their complaints to the party’s Primary Appeal Committee.
The State Secretary of the party, Alex Kalejaye, said the committee would sit at the party secretariat in Akure to receive petitions from dissatisfied aspirants.
He urged party members to take advantage of the appeal process in the interest of fairness and party unity.
A similar controversy trailed the primaries in Ekiti State where the APC declared the election in Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency inconclusive following violence in some voting centres.
Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Asipa Wasiu, said the crisis prevented the completion of the exercise, adding that the party’s National Working Committee would decide the next step.
Despite the disruption, winners emerged in five other constituencies across the state.
Incumbent lawmaker Steve Fatoba secured the Ekiti Central I ticket with 8,943 votes, while Oladapo Karounwi defeated incumbent Abiodun Omoleye in Ekiti Central II.
Okoro Toyin Zaccheaus also defeated incumbent Rufus Ojuawo in Ekiti South I, while Richard Bamisile retained the Ekiti South II ticket.
In Rivers State, loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dominated the APC primaries.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, won the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency ticket with 17,968 votes.
Incumbent lawmaker Dumnamene Dekor also retained the Gokana/Khana ticket after defeating his opponent by a wide margin.
Other winners included Solomon Bob, Frederick Apiafi, Blessing Amadi, Cyril Hart and Linda Stewart among others.
Chairman of the APC Election Committee in Rivers, Wahab Owokoniran, described the exercise as peaceful despite fears of violence before the polls.
One of the major upsets of the primaries occurred in Plateau State where incumbent federal lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi lost his bid for another term.
Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, was defeated by John Tonshinen in the primary election.
Tonshinen polled 299,968 votes to emerge victorious, while Gagdi scored 5,849 votes.
In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru commended the conduct of the exercise, describing it as peaceful and orderly.
He said the decision of some political appointees to resign and contest elections reflected democratic principles.
Among the winners in the state were Chinedu Ogah, Iduma Igariwey and Nkemkanma Kama.
Controversy also emerged in Katsina State where former aspirant for Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency, Ahmed Saleh, alleged that he was detained by security operatives for more than 24 hours to stop him from participating in the primary election.
Saleh accused authorities of acting on the directive of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.
Despite his absence, he reportedly secured 1,256 votes, while Jamila Mani, Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development, won the contest with 24,989 votes.
Across the country, other notable politicians also secured APC tickets.
In Katsina State, Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the Daura Federal Constituency ticket.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, emerged unopposed in Kaduna State, while former lawmaker Samaila Suleiman won the Kaduna North ticket.
In Kebbi State, former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Jafar Ahmed Jega, defeated incumbent lawmaker Mansur Musa Jega to secure the Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro ticket.
Former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, also emerged victorious in the Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency contest.
Meanwhile, protests broke out in parts of Niger and Kebbi states over allegations of candidate imposition and irregularities during the exercise.
Some primaries in Niger State were reportedly stalled after disagreements among party members, while supporters of an aspirant in Kebbi protested the emergence of an incumbent lawmaker, alleging compromise by party officials.
The APC primaries are part of the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, with other nomination exercises expected to continue in the coming days.
