It was a day of massive political shocks across Nigeria as several sitting members of the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) completely lost their re-election tickets during the party primaries held on Saturday.
While many federal lawmakers managed to secure their return tickets, official primary election results announced across multiple states on Sunday revealed that a significant number of serving lawmakers were soundly defeated by fresher aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Here is the full breakdown of how the tables turned against the incumbents across different states:
Benue State: Akume’s Loyalists Flattened By Alia’s Camp
In Benue State, a massive political realignment saw six serving APC House of Representatives members—mostly known as core loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume—fail to retain their tickets. They were swept out by candidates heavily backed by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
-
Gwer East/Gwer West: Austin Achado crashed out after polling a mere 729 votes against David Nongo, who secured a landslide victory with 17,429 votes.
-
Oju/Obi: David Ogewu was soundly defeated by Peter Ogbodo, who packed 12,993 votes against Ogewu’s tiny 120 votes.
-
Kwande/Ushongo: Terseer Ugbor completely lost his re-election ticket.
-
Buruku: Sekav Iyortyom managed only 1,396 votes, losing heavily to Gideon Inyom who polled 10,470 votes.
-
Makurdi/Guma: Dickson Tarkighir scored 1,746 votes, while Christopher Ikper cleared the path with 37,844 votes to emerge as the winner.
Nasarawa State: Two Incumbents Displaced
The primaries in Nasarawa State ended the ambitions of two sitting federal lawmakers.
-
Nasarawa/Toto: Two-term lawmaker Ari Abdulmumin Muhammad (who served from 2015 to 2023) was thoroughly beaten by Mohammed Al-Bashir Babae Yarima, who pulled 31,796 votes against Muhammad’s 9,039 votes.
-
Akwanga/Wamba/Nasarawa Eggon: One-term incumbent Jeremia Umaru came a distant second with 4,061 votes, losing his ticket to Tony Bala Shammah, who amassed a staggering 38,333 votes.
Plateau State: Yusuf Gagdi Denied Third Term
In a shocking twist on the Plateau, Yusuf Gagdi, the powerful lawmaker representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, failed to capture his third-term ticket. The direct primary election results declared at Pankshin on Sunday showed Gagdi trailing with 5,849 votes, losing to Dr. John Tongshinen, who garnered 29,968 votes.
Edo State: Defection Fails To Save Iyawe
In Edo State, serving lawmaker Eseosa Iyawe lost the Oredo Federal Constituency APC ticket to a former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu. Iyawe had originally entered the House of Representatives on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) before jumping ship to the APC.
Imo State: Four Lawmakers Disowned By Party
The political climate in Imo State was harsh on incumbents, as four sitting members of the House of Representatives were completely denied return tickets. The casualties include:
-
Matthew Nwogu (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala)
-
Miriam Onuoha (Okigwe South)
-
Harrison Nwadike (Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele)
-
Emeka Martins Chinedu (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte)
Kwara State: Governor’s Former CPS Defeats Incumbent
In Kwara State, Ismail Kayode, the incumbent representative for Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa Federal Constituency, lost his re-election bid. He was unseated by Rafiu Ajakaye, the high-profile former Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Kebbi State: Consensus Knocks Out Mansur Jega
Over in Kebbi State, sitting lawmaker Mansur Musa Jega lost the APC ticket for the Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro Federal Constituency. His exit followed a strict consensus arrangement that produced Jafar Ahmed Jega, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Jigawa State: Four Sitting Lawmakers Cleared Out
Jigawa State witnessed a massive sweeping out of old hands, as four serving lawmakers lost their return tickets simultaneously. The defeated lawmakers are:
-
Muktar Muhammad (Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi)
-
Ibrahim Usman Auyo (Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa)
-
Sa’adu Wada Taura (Ringim/Taura)
-
Yusif Sa’idu Miga (Jahun/Miga)
Delta State: 1999 Veteran Nicholas Mutu Displaced
The biggest upset of the entire exercise occurred in Delta State, where a historic federal lawmaker, Nicholas Mutu, failed to secure the APC ticket for Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency. Mutu, who has incredibly represented the constituency in the House of Representatives since the return of democracy in 1999, lost the party’s ticket to Basil Okolobaowei Ganagana, who will now fly the APC flag for the 2027 general elections.
