By Pius Mordi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday conducted its House of Representatives primary across the country with the return of many of the incumbents.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, in an exercise that witnessed large turnout of party members.

In Lagos, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, ascended to the federal level as he picked the ticket for Agege federal constituency unopposed. He has been Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly since June 8, 2015.

In Delta State, however, the exercise marked the consolidation of the hold on the state’s political leadership by the old PDP after what was seen as a hostile takeover of APC in 2025.

The tickets were picked by either incumbents from PDP or new hands of the old PDP stock. For members of the legacy APC, it was the final nail on their coffin as the outcome of the primary echoed the line of the leadership of the new APC after the merger.

In Patani federal constituency, there was a change of seismic proportion as Nicholas Mutu who had held the seat since 1999, the only man to have had an unbroken 28 years stay in the House, dethroned by Basil Ganagana, a former deputy speaker of the state assembly under PDP. With 14,650 votes, he defeated Mutu who go 1,093 votes.

In Isoko federal constituency, Jonathan Ukodhiko emerged victorious. Similarly, in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Nnamdi Ezechi was declared winner. In Aniocha/Oshimili, Ndudi Godwin Elumelu staged a successful return to the ticket by defeating Ngozi Okolie who in 2023 electoral cycle beat the Elumelu, then of the PDP while flying the flag of the Labour Party.

Ejiro Waive was declared winner of the primary election in Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu just as Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Sueni, the incumbent and daughter of former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, was declared winner in Ethiopia federal constituency.

At 34 years, Yusuf Buhari, son of late President Muhammadu Buhari, may become one of the youngest ever members of the lower federal legislative house. He received 5,849 votes in the primary election to secure the ticket for Sandamu/Daura/Mai’adua Federal Constituency seat in Katsina State. His closest rival, Auwal Lawal Daura, got 21 votes.

The primary where the consensus option and direct voting were used was generally peaceful except in Lagos where the Police apprehended 10 suspects over the violence that erupted at Egbe in the Alimosho area of the state.

The incident disrupted the process, forcing voters and party officials to flee for safety. Several party members sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident. Police said a locally made pistol was recovered from the suspects.

Reactions from APC leaders to the outcome of the House of Representatives primary elections are deeply divided. While the party leadership and victorious candidates praised the exercises as peaceful triumphs for internal democracy, aggrieved aspirants and civic groups heavily criticized the outcomes, citing alleged disenfranchisement and imposition. In Lagos, leaders defended the integrity of the process.

Following victories for figures like Speaker Mudashiru Obasa (Agege) and Mayor Dele Oshinowo (Kosofe), party executives commended the delegates and noted that the outcomes represent the electorate’s desire for the continuation of their “shared vision”.

Edo State leaders, including Governor Monday Okpebholo, celebrated a “tightened grip” on party structures after their preferred aspirants secured convincing victories in the 18 local government areas.

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

Speaking shortly after casting his vote in his Ward, Okpe Local Government Area during the Okpe/Sapele/Ughelli Federal Constituency primary, Governor Oborevwori expressed satisfaction with the level of participation and the calm atmosphere that characterised the exercise.