The political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections is already witnessing a dramatic shift following the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries, where more than 50 lawmakers were pushed out of the race in one of the biggest internal political shake-ups in recent history.
The primaries, held across the country over the weekend, produced a mix of surprises, controversies, protests and allegations of manipulation, exposing growing cracks within the ruling party as powerful incumbents lost their grip on party structures.
Among those affected are ranking lawmakers, long-serving members and influential political figures who had expected smooth returns to the National Assembly.
Big Names Fall
One of the biggest casualties was House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who lost the APC ticket for Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State.
Despite his position in the House leadership, Ihonvbere finished third in the contest behind Andrew Ijegbia, who secured victory with a commanding lead.
In Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi, one of the most vocal lawmakers in the House, also lost his bid for a third term after suffering a crushing defeat in the primary election.
Another major political upset came from Delta State, where Nicholas Mutu, one of the longest-serving members of the House of Representatives since 1999, failed to secure another ticket.
Mike Etaba of Cross River State also lost his fourth-term ambition, ending another long legislative run.
Political observers say the defeats signal a growing rebellion within party structures against entrenched political figures.
Speaker, Deputy Survive Political Storm
While many influential lawmakers fell, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, successfully secured their return tickets.
Several lawmakers in Borno State also retained their seats, including Betara Aliyu, Ahmed Jaha and Bukar Talba.
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However, beyond a few victories, the primaries largely exposed the fragile hold many incumbents now have over their constituencies.
Crisis and Allegations Rock Primaries
The exercise was marred by protests, accusations of fraud and internal disputes in several states.
In Ondo State, confusion erupted after disagreements among members of the APC primary election committee stalled the announcement of results.
Party insiders alleged that some political actors attempted to force the committee to declare preferred aspirants as consensus candidates despite opposition from some committee members.
The crisis reportedly forced some members of the panel to abandon the process and return to Abuja.
In Lagos State, House of Representatives aspirant Ademola Amure described the Epe Federal Constituency primary as “shambolic” and “fraudulent,” alleging voter intimidation, violence and widespread irregularities.
According to him, armed thugs disrupted voting in some wards while opposition supporters were allegedly chased away from polling areas.
Ekiti Aspirants Reject Results
In Ekiti State, some aspirants openly rejected the primary results and demanded fresh elections.
Teju Okuyiga, who contested for Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, accused party officials of manipulating results and bypassing voting procedures in several wards.
She alleged that figures were allocated in places where no voting took place.
Another aspirant, Victor Kolade, also condemned the process, describing it as deeply flawed and lacking credibility.
The protests reflect growing dissatisfaction among party members over the conduct of the primaries and the increasing influence of political godfathers in candidate selection.
South-South Produces Mixed Outcomes
The South-South region witnessed some of the fiercest political battles during the primaries.
In Cross River State, five out of eight serving lawmakers failed to secure return tickets, marking one of the highest casualty rates in the country.
Rivers State also produced major upsets as several incumbents lost their bids to return to the House.
In Bayelsa State, the situation was different, with some lawmakers retaining their tickets while others stepped aside to pursue senatorial ambitions or remain in opposition parties.
Growing Fear Ahead of 2027
Political analysts say the APC primaries may be an early sign of the fierce battles expected ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The outcome has already triggered fresh alignments, internal grievances and fears of possible defections by aggrieved aspirants.
For many lawmakers who lost their tickets, the primaries may have marked the end of their National Assembly careers, while for others, it may be the beginning of fresh political battles in courtrooms and appeal panels.
With opposition parties yet to conduct their primaries, more political surprises are expected in the coming months as the race for the 2027 elections gathers momentum.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.