RismadarVoice Reporters, May 20, 2026
The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections have dealt a major political blow to several serving lawmakers, with no fewer than 70 members of the National Assembly losing their bids to secure return tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development emerged as protests, complaints and disputes over the conduct of the primaries intensified across several states, with some aspirants rejecting outcomes and alleging irregularities.
The ruling party currently has 330 lawmakers in the National Assembly, made up of 242 members of the House of Representatives and 88 senators, many of whom sought re-election.
Among prominent casualties of the exercise are Senators Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East), Titus Zam (Benue North-West), Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), Saliu Mustapha (Kwara) and Diket Plang (Plateau Central).
Also affected were former Labour Party lawmakers who defected to the APC but failed to secure tickets under the ruling party. They include Senator Neda Imasuen of Edo South, Esosa Iyawe of Oredo Federal Constituency, Tochukwu Okere of Imo, Bassey Akiba of Cross River and Daulyop Fom of Plateau State.
Representative Donatus Matthew, popularly known as the “Okada Rider”, who defected from the Labour Party to the APC after representing Kaura Constituency in Kaduna State, was also shut out after being disqualified during the party’s screening process.
With party membership submissions already closed, many of the affected lawmakers may no longer have the option of contesting under another political platform.
The primaries have, however, been followed by growing unrest in several states, with accusations of manipulation, violence and imposition of candidates dominating post-election reactions.
In Ondo State, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire narrowly escaped harm after armed men reportedly attacked his polling unit during the senatorial primary election at Okilisa Ward 5 in Akure.
Witnesses said the attackers stormed the venue and fired gunshots after voting had indicated that Adegbonmire was leading the contest. The incident triggered panic as party members, journalists and election officials fled for safety.
The senator later condemned the exercise, describing it as a “complete charade” and accusing political actors of orchestrating intimidation against his supporters.
According to him, voting had progressed peacefully before the violence erupted.
“My supporters were about 400 and there were three lines. They started counting my line first because it was the longest. But while counting continued and it became clear we were leading, thugs invaded the venue and started shooting,” he said.
Several aspirants across the country have also rejected the outcome of the exercises.
Former Delta State deputy governor and APC governorship hopeful Ovie Omo-Agege, former Edo governorship candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Kaduna Assembly Speaker Yusuf Zailani and former Senator Ayo Arise were among political figures who challenged the credibility of the primaries.
In Delta State, uncertainty surrounded the outcome of the Senate primaries after the party leadership faulted the announcement of results at state collation centres.
APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the party had directed that only the National Working Committee should issue final declarations after reviewing complaints and petitions.
He explained that the process was designed to ensure fairness and resolve disputes before official winners are announced.
The controversy has cast uncertainty over reported victories recorded by some aspirants in Delta, as opponents continue to await final pronouncements from the party’s national leadership.
In Benue State, two serving senators also lost their return bids.
Senator Titus Zam of Benue North-West finished third in his contest, while former Governor Gabriel Suswam staged a comeback in Benue North-East by defeating incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende by a wide margin.
In Cross River State, Senator Eteng Jones Williams and fellow aspirant Mary Ekpere rejected reports of results circulating online for the Cross River Central Senatorial District, insisting that no election took place across the district’s 66 wards.
Similarly, protests broke out at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, where stakeholders from Kogi Central demanded the cancellation of the senatorial primary involving former Governor Yahaya Bello, alleging irregularities and violations of party procedures.
In Zamfara, senatorial aspirant Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi warned the APC against what he described as attempts to impose candidates, cautioning that the party could face a repeat of the political crisis that cost it electoral victories in 2019.
As petitions continue to mount and aggrieved aspirants challenge outcomes, the APC now faces increasing pressure to manage internal disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
