Seven of the eleven House of Representatives members in Benue State, at the weekend, lost their seats during the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Jigawa State, four-term House member, Sa’idu Miga, also lost his APC return ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. The lawmaker representing Jahun and Miga Federal Constituency was dropped during Saturday’s primaries, ending his nearly two decades in federal politics.

However, House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, claimed victory in the APC primary election for Owan East/Owan West Federal Constituency of Edo State.

Also, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abba Bichi, won the APC primary to contest the 2027 general election.

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the APC House of Representatives primary elections across the state, describing the exercise as a reflection of the party’s unity, transparency and growing political strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Borno APC had declared the House of Representatives primary elections in the Askira/Uba/Hawul federal constituency inconclusive.

The Chairman, National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Sabiu Mahuta, while briefing journalists after the exercise, yesterday, declared the wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Regina Akume, nominated for Gboko/Tarka federal Constituency. She scored 19,638 to defeat former Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Alomo Orpin, who scored 2,779 votes.

Daughter of former Senate President, Blessing Onuh, was nominated for Otukpo/Ohimini constituency, having scored 17,451 to beat Lawrence Onoja, who got 974. Solomon Wombo emerged victorious for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo constituency.

MIGA, widely regarded as one of the longest-serving lawmakers from Jigawa, first entered the House of Representatives in 2003 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).He later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2014 opposition coalition merger that brought the party to power in 2015.

Despite his political experience, growing dissatisfaction among constituents appears to have weakened his support base in Jahun and Miga local councils.

Residents and youth groups repeatedly accused the lawmaker of poor representation and a lack of visible constituency projects.

IHONVBERE’S camp said ward-collated results from the direct primary conducted across the constituency showed that Ihonvbere secured 4,729 votes to defeat his closest rival, Andrew Ijegbai, who polled 2,912 votes, while Abdul Oroh recorded 29 votes.

The claim was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Samson Akhanieme, following reports that the House Leader lost the contest.

Speaking after the exercise, Ihonvbere thanked APC members and stakeholders for their support and called for unity among party faithful ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I remain committed to working with all stakeholders and former aspirants to ensure total victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections,” the House Leader was quoted as saying.

BICHI, representing Bichi Federal Constituency of Kano, emerged as the sole candidate that will bear the APC flag in the 2027 election.

Abdulmumin Jibrin secured the APC ticket for his Kiru/ Bebeji Federal Constituency. Jibrin, a former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, won the APC ticket to contest in the 2027 general election.

Also emerged during the APC primaries were Shehu Muhammad, representing Fagge Federal constituency, and Abdullahi Ganduje, representing Kabo/Gwarzo Federal Constituency.

Unfortunately, former House member, Farouk Lawan, failed to get the APC ticket to re-contest his Bagwai/Shannon Federal constituency in 2027. Lawan lost to Yusuf Badau in a keenly contest primary held in the constituency.

Confirming the development, spokesperson of the party in Kano, Auwalu Soja, disclosed that Bichi emerged as the sole candidate and eventually returned on affirmation.

According to Soja, 22 candidates emerged on the platform of consensus arrangement while elections were conducted in two Federal Constituencies, where efforts to reach stakeholders’ consensus failed.

Results of other constituencies are still under collation as at the time of filing the report.

OBOREVWORI, during the APC primary election for the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of party members and the calm atmosphere that characterised the process, noting that the conduct of the election demonstrated the confidence of party faithful in the APC leadership in the state.

“You can see the peaceful manner in which the primary election for the House of Representatives in the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency was conducted. The people are happy, united and satisfied with the process,” the governor stated.

THE Chairman of Borno APC’s seven-member election committee, Mr Ode Erue, stated in Maiduguri yesterday: “Today’s primary election in this Federal constituency has been declared inconclusive by the committee,” attributing it to the non-submission of the party’s Appeal Committee report.

He also declared the House of Representatives primary election across the state’s 312 wards and 27 local councils “peaceful and orderly.”

From Adamu Abuh (Abuja), Joseph Kanjo (Benin City), Murtala Adewale (Kano), Monday Osayande (Asaba), Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) and Samson Kukwa-Yanor (Makurdi) (Guardian)

Update news