No fewer than 50 members of the 10th House of Representatives may not return to the Green Chamber in 2027, following sweeping upsets recorded in the All Progressives Congress primaries held nationwide over the weekend.
As of press time on Sunday, at least 48 serving lawmakers on the platform of the APC had lost their bids to secure return tickets, while two others from Bayelsa State stepped aside from the race to pursue higher political offices.
The number of affected lawmakers is expected to rise significantly as the party has yet to release comprehensive results of the exercise. In addition, other major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, are yet to conduct their primaries.
The early outcomes, however, signal what may become one of the biggest shake-ups in the history of the National Assembly, with ranking lawmakers, principal officers and long-serving members swept aside in a wave of anti-incumbency sentiment and intra-party realignments.
Despite the widespread losses, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu, secured their return tickets, alongside a number of loyalists across key states.
Among the most high-profile casualties is the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who lost the APC ticket for Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State.
Results from the primary showed that Ihonvbere polled 1,005 votes out of 7,587 votes cast, finishing third behind Andrew Ijegbia, who won with 3,695 votes. Abdul Oroh scored 1,740 votes, while Barrister Scot and Honourable Folly polled 642 and 505 votes respectively.
Also losing out is Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, who failed in his bid for a third term.
The returning officer, Daspan Ishaya, announced that Dr. John Tongshinen secured a landslide victory with 29,968 votes, while Gagdi polled fewer than 6,000 votes.
In Delta State, Nicholas Mutu, one of the longest-serving lawmakers who has been in the House since 1999, lost his bid to return, marking a potential end to a legislative career spanning over two decades.
Similarly, Mike Etaba, a three-term lawmaker representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River State, failed to secure his party’s ticket for a fourth term.
In Borno State, the primaries produced a mix of continuity and change, with several incumbents retaining their tickets. Those who secured return tickets include Usman Zannah (Gubio/Kaga/Magumeri), Aliyu Betara (Biu/Shani/Kwaya Kusar/Bayo), Kadiri Rahis (Maiduguri Metropolitan Council), Satomi Ahmed (Jere), Bukar Talba (Marte/Monguno/Nganzai), and Ahmed Jaha (Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa).
New entrants also emerged in the state, including Hajja Fati Kakenna, Dr. Kaumi Umara Zulum, and Mustapha Abdullahi Babani, while the primary in Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency remained inconclusive.
In Bayelsa State, the exercise recorded a blend of retention, defection and strategic withdrawals.
The lawmaker representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency, Oforji Oboku, retained his ticket, while Rodney Ambaiowei also secured victory in Southern Ijaw.
However, in Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, a new entrant, Bernard Kenebai, emerged victorious following the decision of incumbent Fred Agbedi to remain in the PDP and pursue a senatorial ambition.
In Ogbia, Jude Rex Ogbuku clinched the APC ticket after the incumbent, Matema Obodor, declined to defect from the PDP, while in Nembe/Brass, Jonathan Robinson Obuebite emerged as candidate as the incumbent, Marie Ebikake, opted to contest a senatorial seat.
Cross River State witnessed one of the most dramatic outcomes, with five out of eight serving lawmakers losing their return tickets.
Those affected include Etaba, Alex Egbona (Abi/Yakurr), Godwin Offiono (Ogoja/Yala), Emil Inyang (Akamkpa/Biase), and Bassey Akiba (Odukpani/Calabar Municipality).
Only three incumbents—Peter Akpanke, Joseph Bassey and Victor Abang—secured return tickets in the state.
A similar pattern played out in Ogun State, where five of the nine serving lawmakers failed to clinch tickets. Among them are Deputy Chief Whip Ibrahim Isiaka, Ishaq Akinlade, Tunji Akinosi and Femi Ogunbanwo.
In Rivers State, prominent lawmakers including Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Boma Goodhead, Anderson Allison Igbiki and John Azubuike Opara were among those who lost out in the primaries.
Delta State also recorded a significant upset as Ngozi Okolie lost the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency ticket to former Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu.
In Ekiti State, three incumbents were defeated. Oladapo Karounwi polled 6,573 votes to defeat Abiodun Omoleye, while Okoro Toyin Zaccheaus defeated Rufus Adeni Ojuawo with 9,798 votes. Ibrahim Olanrewaju also triumphed with 6,856 votes to unseat an incumbent.
The exercise has been marred by widespread protests and allegations of manipulation, voter intimidation and non-compliance with party guidelines.
In Ekiti, an aspirant for Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, Teju Okuyiga, rejected the outcome, alleging that “figures were allocated” and that no voting took place in several wards.
“The electoral process was not followed. Party guidelines for delegate accreditation, voting and collation were openly disregarded. This was not an election,” she said.
Another aspirant, Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade, described the exercise as “a filthy one… disappointing and nothing encouraging to write home about.”
In Lagos State, House of Representatives aspirant Ademola Amure called for the cancellation of the Epe Federal Constituency primary, describing it as “shambolic, massively flawed and fraudulent.”
He alleged incidents of violence and intimidation, stating, “In Ward F1, gunfire was used to scare away voters, while thugs in Ward E2 ordered anyone not voting for a preferred aspirant to leave.
In Ondo State, the primary process was thrown into crisis following a split within the seven-member election committee, which prevented the declaration of results.
Sources disclosed that disagreements over the announcement of consensus candidates forced the committee’s secretary, Adamu Mohammed Shamaki, and two other members to return to Abuja.
“The secretary insisted that the panel should submit its report to the National Working Committee instead of declaring winners,” a party source said.
The crisis has heightened tension within the state chapter of the party, amid allegations of attempts to impose candidates.
Meanwhile, in Osun State, the results of the primaries are still being awaited, although some candidates emerged through consensus arrangements in constituencies such as Ijesa-South, Iwo, Ede and Ila.
With dozens of incumbents already out of the race and more primaries yet to be conducted by other parties, the composition of the 11th House of Representatives is expected to witness a major overhaul.
The scale of the upsets underscores deepening internal party contestations, shifting political alliances and growing resistance to entrenched incumbency.
Analysts say the outcome could redefine legislative power dynamics ahead of 2027, as new entrants, political heavyweights and displaced incumbents prepare for the next phase of the electoral battle.