About 68 per cent of members of the House of Representatives are seeking re-election in the January 16, 2027 National Assembly election, in what could see a significant number of lawmakers in the 10th Assembly return to the Green Chamber.

The 246 lawmakers, representing 68.3 per cent of the 360-member House, are joined in the race by no fewer than 20 former members seeking a comeback in the 11th Assembly.

The figures are contained in the final list of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend.

Among the 246 incumbents seeking re-election are Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase; Minority Whip Bello Kumo; and former House Leader Alhassan Ado-Doguwa.

Others include Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muktar Betara; Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Bamidele Salam; Sada Soli; Chimaobi Atu, representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency of Enugu State; Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere of Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State; and Bob Solomon of Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State.

Abbas, who was first elected to represent Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State in 2011, is seeking a fifth term and will face nine other candidates.

Kalu, on the other hand, is seeking a third term as representative of Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State and will square up against 13 other candidates.

Wase, Doguwa and Betara, who were first elected to the House in 2007, are seeking sixth terms.

While Doguwa represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State, Wase represents Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State, while Betara represents Biu/Kwaya-Kusar/Shani/Bayo Federal Constituency of Borno State.

Apart from the incumbents, no fewer than 20 former members of the House have secured the tickets of their respective political parties in an attempt to return to the National Assembly in 2027.

Among those staging a comeback are former Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu; former Deputy Chief Whip Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; and former member representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Anayo Edwin.

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, is also seeking to represent Akoko South East/Akoko South West Federal Constituency of Ondo State, while Lynda Ikpeazu is seeking a return to represent Onitsha Federal Constituency of Anambra State.

Also seeking a comeback are former member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency of Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, and former Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education, Aminu Suleiman, who previously represented Fagge Federal Constituency of Kano State, among others.

However, the high number of incumbents seeking another term comes against the backdrop of several members of the 10th House who failed to secure return tickets during their parties’ primaries. Others opted for Senate or governorship contests, while some are not seeking any elective position in 2027.

Among those who lost their return bids are House Leader Julius Ihonvbere and immediate past Deputy House Leader Peter Akpatason, representing Owan Federal Constituency and Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency of Edo State, respectively.

Also knocked out during the primaries were Emeka Chinedu, representing Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency of Imo State; Mariam Onuoha of Onuimo/Okigwe/Isiala Mbano Federal Constituency; and Chike Okafor of Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency.

While Minority Leader Fredrick Agbedi is seeking election to the Senate, Manu Soro, Abdulsamad Dasuki, George Ozodinobi and some other principal officers are not contesting for elective positions in next year’s general election. (The Sun)