Multiple controversies have dogged the primary elections for House of Representatives tickets of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country.

The primaries were held in the 360 federal constituencies across the country between Saturday and Sunday.

The intra-party contests, which processes would determine the flag bearers of the party in next year’s general elections, kicked off with that of the House of Representatives over the weekend, while that of the Senate commences on Monday (today).

Daily Trust’s earlier report indicated that the Reps primaries, which were supposed to have commenced on Friday, were postponed to the next day (Saturday) due to disagreements over consensus arrangements, as there were reports that the processes were hijacked by influential persons where consensus was adopted.

As the exercise commenced on Saturday, aspirants expressed dissatisfaction with the processes, leading many to withdraw from the race, with others outright rejecting the results and many others shunning the exercise.

Our correspondents observed that in some states, the venue of the exercise was not known. In others, conflicting results were being peddled by various aspirants, while there were cases of violence in some.

In some states, people began jubilation ahead of the release of results while claiming victory, while in places where consensus was reached, aspirants rejected the choices, saying they were not transparent.

Analysts say if the aspirants can be this desperate in the Reps primary, then it shows that when it comes to those with higher stakes like the Senate and governorship, it would be more intense.

Katsina: Aspirant alleges conspiracy

In Katsina State, though many of the candidates were elected through consensus arrangements, the processes were not entirely hitch-free.

An aspirant for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Ahmed Sale Junior, alleged there was a conspiracy to detain him during the party’s primary election by the state government thereby preventing him from participating in the exercise.

Ahmed Sale Junior made the allegation while reacting to the outcome of the APC primary election conducted for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency in Katsina State, which produced Jamila Abdu Mani as the winner of the primaries.

The aspirant said he was arrested and detained by DSS operatives for about four hours shortly before the commencement of the primary election and was only released after the exercise had been concluded in Mani Local Government Area.

The aspirant alleged that while he remained in detention, another aspirant was declared the winner of the primary election with 20,000 votes, while he was allocated 1,000 votes.

However, the Katsina State Government has denied the allegations, insisting that Governor Dikko Radda has no constitutional authority over the operations of the DSS.

Responding to the claims, Director General Media of the Katsina State Government, Malam Maiwada Danmalam, stated that governors are not constitutionally empowered to exercise authority over security agencies, including the DSS, and therefore it was illogical to accuse Governor Radda of ordering the aspirant’s arrest or detention.

Conflicting results emerge in Plateau, 1 killed

Two conflicting results have emerged from the primary for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State conducted on Saturday.

The two results declared two different candidates as winners; one returning officer declared Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, the current member representing the constituency as the winner, while another returning officer declared Dr. John Tongshinen.

Earlier on Sunday, a returning officer, Nandom Andrew Kura, declared Gagdi the winner, saying he polled 29,207 votes.

According to Kura, “Five contestants went in for the primary. The result is as follows. We have Adamu Yusuf Gagdi, who polled 29,207 votes. We have Henry Goti, who polled 293 votes. We have Zhiphion Chrysantus, who polled 848 votes. We have Abbas Adamu, who polled 430 votes and we have Jhon Tongshinai, who polled 372 votes.”

However, in another press conference held in Pankshin on Sunday, a returning officer, Daspan Ishaya, announced that Dr. John Tongshinen scored the highest votes in the primary.

According to Ishaya, Tongshinen scored 29,968 votes in the exercise, adding that Hon. Gagdi polled 5,849 votes, while John Pia scored 51 votes.

Ishaya stated that the figures were collated from across the wards and local government areas.

Contacted earlier on Sunday on the conflicting results circulating on social media, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Wumana Bako, described the results as being manufactured by zealous supporters of some aspirants in the state.

The party spokesperson said the committee sent from the APC National Secretariat has the sole responsibility of announcing the results for each federal constituency at the state party secretariat.

A resident of Kasuwan Ali community in Mangu Local Government Area of the state, Sani Abdullahi, was shot dead at the venue of the election.

Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that the victim was reportedly shot dead by some security operatives following a disagreement over the commencement of the exercise.

Ibrahim Sale, a resident of the area who confirmed the incident, said the trouble started when some APC members protested the delay in the commencement of the primary scheduled for Saturday.

“The exercise was supposed to take place on Saturday morning, but it didn’t take place because of the absence of returning officers. So the youths started protesting, alleging that the delay was deliberate,” he said.

Contestants demand review of primaries in Kaduna

A coalition of aspirants under the APC in Kaduna State has appealed to the party’s national leadership to review the conduct of the primaries in the state.

The group, operating under the banner of APC Coalition of Kaduna Senatorial/House of Representatives Frontline Aspirants (CKFA), expressed dissatisfaction with the processes adopted in some senatorial districts and federal constituencies during the exercise.

In a protest letter dated May 17, 2026, and addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, the coalition called for a transparent and inclusive process in line with the party’s constitution and nomination guidelines.

The letter was signed by former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani; former senator Danjuma Laah; northern activist Yerima Shettima; and Sani Abdulkadir Dakace.

The coalition urged the national leadership of the party to intervene in issues surrounding consensus arrangements and the conduct of some House of Representatives primaries in Kaduna State.

According to the group, some aspirants were unhappy with the manner consensus candidates emerged in certain areas, stressing the need for wider consultations and strict adherence to internal democratic procedures.

The coalition, however, reaffirmed its commitment to the unity and progress of the APC, noting that all cleared aspirants and party members should be adequately carried along in the process.

It warned that unresolved grievances arising from the primaries could affect cohesion within the party ahead of the general elections.

The group also urged the APC leadership to promote reconciliation among stakeholders and ensure that future party processes strengthen confidence and unity within the party.

The coalition maintained that its position was aimed at protecting the integrity of the APC and promoting fairness in the party.

Aspirant rejects primaries in Gombe

An aspirant contesting for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alfred John Attajiri, rejected the result of the direct primary election conducted by the party on Saturday.

Attajiri, in a statement, described the results announced by the returning officer as both shocking and unacceptable, insisting that the election was never conducted.

He said, “Across Balanga and Billiri LGAs, there is overwhelming evidence in the form of videos, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and reports showing clearly that no valid electoral exercise took place before results were declared.

“This development is not only an insult to the democratic rights of party members and delegates, but also a dangerous precedent capable of destroying the confidence and credibility APC has built over the years.”

Drama in Bauchi as aspirant holds victory rally before official results

There was drama in Bauchi State when an aspirant for Bauchi Federal Constituency, Hon Salisu Sabo, and his supporters yesterday held a victory rally claiming victory at Saturday’s party primaries before official results were declared.

Sabo and his hundreds of supporters went around the Bauchi metropolis with lots of musical groups cheering residents for victory in the election.

Sabo is contesting the ticket of the Bauchi Federal Constituency seat alongside Idris Isa Yuguda, son of former Governor Isa Yuguda, Engineer Abdullahi Sirajo Jibril, and the only female contender, Hon Badi’atu Inuwa (Siyama).

Speaking with journalists shortly after the rally, Sabo claimed that results available from his agents across the election centres in Bauchi LGA revealed that he won the elections with a wide margin and cautioned the electoral committee to affirm his victory.

The Party Electoral Committee is assigned to conduct the elections in 12 federal constituencies in Bauchi State, but at 7:30pm yesterday, members of the committee were not on the ground at the APC State Secretariat, and the venue of announcements of results had not yet commenced the announcement of the results of the primaries.

All efforts made to get the reactions of the committee met a brick wall and another effort to get the reactions of the State APC leaders through its Chairman, Muhammad Hassan Tilde, was unsuccessful as he declined comment despite several calls and text messages.

Protests in Adamawa

The APC primary election for the eight House of Representatives seats met with protests and outright rejection in Adamawa State.

Announcing the results in Yola on Sunday, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Ahmed Yushau, said that the exercise was conducted peacefully in a free, fair and credible process.

Prof. Yushau explained that the committee operated strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, as well as the constitution and guidelines of the party.

But in swift reactions, some stakeholders and aspirants who participated in the exercise described the primary election as “manipulation of the due process,” for selfish reasons best known to the perpetrators.

An APC stalwart and aspirant for House of Representatives representing Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency, Ahmadu Hamman Nasara, expressed displeasure with the conduct of the election.

Nasara described the exercise as “The end of democracy in Nigeria,” accusing the committee of reading someone’s script which doesn’t represent the will of the electorate, especially those under the ruling APC.

Aggrieved aspirants from the Southern Senatorial Zone also staged a peaceful protest against the alleged imposition of a House of Representatives candidate for Demsa, Numan and Lamurde Federal Constituency, Kwamoti Laori, in Adamawa.

The demonstration took place in Numan, where dozens of aspirants, party members and supporters gathered at the APC Zonal Secretariat carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No to Imposition,” “Allow Free Primaries,” and “Let the People Decide.”

The aggrieved aspirants, including Vrati Nzonzo, Justina Nkom, Eli Jegubara and Usoko Ken, said the protest was triggered by reports that a single candidate had been selected without consultation or a primary election.

According to them, they are not against any individual, but they are against a process that sidelines other aspirants and ignores the will of party members at the grassroots.

“Democracy within the party must be respected,” they added.

They said that the aspirants had invested time and resources in mobilizing support across the three local government areas in the constituency and deserved a level playing field, calling on the state and national leadership of the APC to cancel any imposed list and allow a transparent primary election.

Ex-council chair escapes attack in Cross River

After allegedly attempting to declare herself the winner of the just-concluded APC primary election for the Bekwarra /Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency in Cross River State, former Bekwarra Local Government Chairman, Mrs Theresa Ushie, narrowly escaped being manhandled by party supporters.

Party members and supporters accused her of disrupting the primary process shortly after arriving at the venue of the election.

Eyewitnesses said the situation turned chaotic when she allegedly moved to interfere with the conduct of the primary and announced herself as the winner.

Sources said the timely intervention of party leaders, security personnel and critical stakeholders prevented the situation from degenerating into physical violence.

As of the time of filing this report, Mrs Ushie had yet to publicly respond to the allegations surrounding the incident.

Ekiti Reps aspirant rejects results

An APC aspirant for the Ekiti Central II Federal Constituency, Barrister Victor Kolade, rejected the outcome of the Saturday House of Representatives primary election and called for the cancellation of the exercise.

He described the primary as very disappointing and not encouraging, adding that no real election took place.

“I wonder what is going to happen to our party. Is this how we will face the future election? What transpired on Saturday was not the intention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Kolade noted that he was awarded some votes, which was not really something that transpired during the election.

Also, Hon. Teju Okuyiga, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and aspirant for Ekiti South II Federal Constituency, rejected the election results.

Okuyiga noted that the process was manipulated to disenfranchise party members, pointing out that the electoral process was not followed, figures were allocated, no election took place in most wards and there was targeted suppression.

Mixed reactions trail primaries in Ondo

Allegations of irregularities and absence of voting marred the APC House of Representatives direct primary election in parts of Ondo State, as some aspirants rejected the exercise and accused the party of failing to conduct a credible process in their constituencies.

Several aggrieved aspirants claimed that elections were not held in some wards and local governments, while others faulted the late release of the party’s screening results, which disqualified some contestants on the day of the exercise.

An aspirant for the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency seat, Wale Omoniyi, rejected the exercise in his constituency, insisting that no valid primary election took place across the 23 wards.

Omoniyi described reports suggesting that a successful primary election was conducted in the constituency as “a sham.”

“We wish to state categorically and unequivocally that no primary election took place in any of the 23 wards of Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency of Ondo State,” he said.

Similarly, another aspirant in the Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Bamidele Ologunloluwa, alleged that the election did not hold in one of the two local governments making up the constituency.

Ologunloluwa, reacting to the exercise, said the election was peaceful in his ward but claimed there were crises in parts of the constituency.

However, Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Gbenga Fashua, alongside other party leaders and aspirants, described the exercise in parts of the state as peaceful and orderly.

Fashua, who monitored the exercise in some wards within Akure South, said the election process appeared credible in the areas he visited, adding that one of the aspirants, Hon. Omowunmi Edith, was leading significantly.

He said, “From the wards I personally monitored, Hon. Omowunmi Edith from Akure South Federal Constituency appeared to be leading significantly, having won about eight wards, while Honourable Alex Adedipe emerged as the next strongest contender.”

APC chieftains, Luyi Oluwatayo and Adeola Fynch, also commended the conduct of the exercise in their ward, describing the process as peaceful and less violent

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing primaries, the APC National leadership released the names of aspirants who participated in the screening exercise for the House of Representatives election but were not cleared to contest.

In Ondo State, seven aspirants were disqualified from participating in the exercise. They include Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen from Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency; Olusegun Victor Ategbole and Seun Oluwashina Ajongbolo from Akoko South-East/South-West; Arowole Ayodeji Samuel from Owo/Ose; Morufu Tosin Ibrahim and Oseni Oyeniyi from Akoko North-East/North-West; as well as Olaleye John Adedipe from Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency.

Videos of irregularities flood internet

In Ebonyi State, there was a case of alleged manipulation in the process of vote counting that shocked many.

In the process of counting, numbers were skipped from 10 to 100 in order to add to the votes of an aspirant.

In Yola North/Yola South Girei (Adamawa), a candidate addressing a crowd claimed that they were at the election venue but no officials and no candidates were there.

“We assure our party that in Adamawa state, in Yola north/Yola South Girei federal constituency, no election was held. People here are the witness. No election held here, we are leaving them to God. We wont call for anarchy, wont protest, but God is our witness that no election was held here,” he said, addressing his supporters.

In Doma/Nasarawa, Nasarawa State a woman in a video, said, “People of Doma and Nasarawa all have who they want, but they are trying to step on our ambition, all we are saying is we are reporting them to God, for we won’t forgive them, they are trying to cause us hypertension, God will not allow them. They way they maltreat us, God will treat them equally. We brought whom we want in Nasarawa but they deny us, we are reporting them to God, we won’t forgive them. We are sure God will listen to us.”

In Sabon Gari, Kaduna, an old man was seen in a video counting women voters for primary election in a queue. He was counting from one to 24, then he jumped to 50.

“As you can see, there are 50 women and 120 men. Have you written that? So, we have successfully voted in Samaru, we will go to Bomo and complete it by God’s grace.

In Ganye/Tongo/Mayo Belwa, Adamawa, people were seen complaining in a viral video that, “We are youths of Ganye II ward GRA, I swear to God we went to government lodge, but election officials dispersed us and asked us to go to our wards. I went to three polling units, but no single election official. And by Nigerian electoral law, they are supposed to wait for us. Somebody was telling me that election has finished since yesterday in Yola. Which law says election should hold in Yola.

Another one said, “This pure injustice, we have been here since morning without seeing any election official, but they are telling us that election is over.”

Another speaker stated: “This is just colonialism. How can we spend the whole day only for someone to tell us that election is over? May God curse the hypocrites. We won’t accept this and we won’t accept it. We want justice, there is no way somebody will come from Yola and decide for us.”

In another viral video said to be in Ebonyi State, though no particular constituency was specified, an election official was seen counting from one to 10, then moved to 100, then 101 to 110, then also jumped to 200, 210 to 300, then 310 to 400 and the pattern continued for each 10 standing for 100, until he reached 1,000, where from 1,010 he jumped to 1,500.

In another video clip of Yabo/Shagari, Sokoto State, party members were protesting, “No election here, no agent, no signature. They have already written their result since last night, no election held here. If you are not part of them, you won’t vote.

“Only eight people voted in each polling unit. Even though INEC said every card carrying member can vote, but we were not allowed to do so. They have drafted everything since yesterday without anybody’s signature. We came out here since 8am, but when we came, we were told that election was over.” (Daily Trust)

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