APC Primaries: Over 70 NASS Lawmakers Lose Return Tickets Amid Protests, Violence

No fewer than 70 serving members of the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not return to parliament in 2027 following the party’s controversial Senate and House of Representatives primaries held across the country.

The affected lawmakers include both senators and members of the House of Representatives who either lost their primaries, stepped down, withdrew from the race or were disqualified from contesting.

Among those affected is former Labour Party lawmaker, Rep Donatus Matthew, popularly known as the “Okada Rider,” who defected to the APC but was later disqualified during screening.

Several other defectors from the Labour Party also failed to secure APC tickets, including Senator Neda Imasuen, Esosa Iyawe, Tochukwu Okere, Bassey Akiba and Daulyop Fom.

Serving APC senators who will not return to the National Assembly include Gbenga Daniel, Diket Plang, Osita Izunaso, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Olubiyi Fadeyi, Saliu Mustapha and Ned Nwoko.

The primaries have also been trailed by protests, violence and allegations of manipulation in several states.

In Ondo State, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire narrowly escaped harm after gunmen reportedly invaded his polling unit during the senatorial primary in Akure. Witnesses said the attackers fired shots into the air and targeted the senator’s vehicle after it became clear he was leading the vote count.

The incident caused panic among delegates, journalists and party members, while some women reportedly sustained injuries during the chaos.

Adegbonmire later described the exercise as a “complete charade,” accusing political thugs of intimidation and disrupting the democratic process.

In Delta State, uncertainty surrounded the announcement of results after the APC National Secretariat faulted some state primary committees for declaring winners without clearance from Abuja.

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, stated that only the party’s National Working Committee has the authority to make final pronouncements after reviewing complaints and petitions.

Meanwhile, aggrieved aspirants in Cross River, Kaduna, Zamfara, Benue, Kogi and Ekiti States rejected various outcomes of the primaries, alleging result fabrication, imposition of candidates, irregularities and lack of transparency.

The growing disputes have raised fresh concerns over internal democracy within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.