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There are indications that no fewer than 50 serving members of the 10th House of Representatives of Nigeria and some current senators may not return to the 11th National Assembly.

The development follows the nationwide primaries conducted by the All Progressives Congress.

ZINGTIE reports that although the APC is yet to officially release the complete results of the primaries, findings suggest the number of affected lawmakers could increase further.

Several lawmakers affected by the primaries are reportedly surprised by the speed at which political alliances shifted against them.

Recall that for months, members of the National Assembly defended controversial reforms, passed executive-backed bills and absorbed the political backlash associated with difficult economic policies.

From the removal of fuel subsidy to amendments to the Electoral Act and various fiscal measures, APC lawmakers repeatedly supported executive proposals despite strong opposition from Nigerians grappling with inflation and economic hardship.

However, as the APC primaries progress ahead of the 2027 elections, many of those lawmakers are now discovering that loyalty to the presidency may not guarantee political survival.

ZINGTIE reports that threats of litigation and silent protests are already emerging from aggrieved aspirants who insist the primaries lacked fairness and transparency.

Among prominent lawmakers who lost APC re-election tickets are Nicholas Mutu representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in Delta State and Mike Etaba representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency in Cross River State.

Mutu has been in the House since 1999, while Etaba failed to secure a fourth-term ticket.

Also, Julius Ihonvbere, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, is among the lawmakers not returning.

The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, also lost his bid for a third term.

Cross River

In Cross River State, five out of the eight serving House of Representatives members failed to secure tickets.

Those affected include three-term lawmaker Mike Etaba representing Obubra/Etung, two-term member Alex Egbona representing Abi/Yakurr, who later defected to the PDP, one-term member Godwin Offiono representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, one-term member Emil Inyang representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency and one-term member Bassey Akiba representing Odukpani/Calabar Municipality.

Rivers

In Rivers State, lawmakers who lost out include John Azubuike Opara, Air Commodore (retd), Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji Imombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, who currently represent Andoni/Opobo and Asari-Toru federal constituencies respectively.

Delta

In Delta State, Nicholas Mutu lost his Bomadi/Patani seat, while Ngozi Lawrence Okolie lost the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency to former House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu.

Also notable in Delta are Senators Ovie Omo-Agege and Ned Nwoko, who both lost during the APC senatorial primaries.

Ekiti

In Ekiti State, three serving lawmakers lost during the primaries.

Abiodun Omoleye and Rufus Adeni Ojuawo were among those who lost out.

In Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, Ibrahim Olanrewaju polled 6,856 votes to defeat the incumbent, who secured 2,102 votes.

Ogun

In Ogun State, five of the nine serving lawmakers failed to secure tickets to return to the Green Chamber ahead of the 2027 elections.

Those who lost include Ishaq Akinlade of Yewa North/Ipokia Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Isiaka representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Tunji Akinosi of Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency and Femi Ogunbanwo representing Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu Federal Constituency.

Enugu

Two Labour Party lawmakers who defected to the APC, Paul Nnamdi representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency and Sunday Umeha representing Udi/Ezeagu, also lost out.

Senator draws battle line

A Kogi East Senator, Jibrin Isah, has challenged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo after losing in the APC primaries.

Echocho, who represents Kogi East Senatorial District, made the remarks in a fiery video message that has since gone viral across the state, raising concerns about a possible supremacy battle within the ruling party ahead of 2027.

The senator alleged that the APC Senate primary election was compromised from the beginning, claiming no genuine voting took place in his ward and that results were allegedly prepared beforehand at Government House.

“That result is a nullity, and that result cannot even be announced,” Echocho declared angrily.

“I have been very supportive of your administration. I have been very loyal to you and to GYB.

“But since you are now out to fight me, take it from me today, the battle line has been drawn,” he warned.

Lawmaker from Ekiti expresses dissatisfaction

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Teju Okuyiga, expressed dissatisfaction with the exercise, insisting that “the electoral process was not followed.”

According to him, party guidelines regarding delegate accreditation, voting and collation were ignored in several wards.

“Figures were allocated, and results were announced in several wards where no voting took place. No election in most wards. In a significant number of wards across my three constituencies, there was no voting, no ballot papers, and no opportunity for delegates to exercise their franchise.

“The process was manipulated to disenfranchise supporters and undermine my candidacy as the only female aspirant in this race. This was not an election,” he said.

Ex-REC Igini forewarned lawmakers

ZINGTIE reported how former Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, warned members of the National Assembly months ago over the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act.

Igini predicted that lawmakers might struggle to retain their seats in 2027 if they fail to ensure mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results in the Electoral Act.

In a statement titled “Proviso to Real-Time E-Transmission of Polling Unit Results: Why a Majority of Legislators May Not Return in 2027″, Igini urged lawmakers to learn from previous electoral cycles.

He argued that unresolved legal loopholes had historically worked against incumbents.

According to him, previous Assemblies ignored structural weaknesses in the electoral system that were later used against many legislators.

Igini further warned that members of the current National Assembly risk facing similar political consequences if ambiguities remain unresolved.

“Those earlier Assemblies, for reasons of convenience and party loyalty, refused to address well-documented election rigging vulnerabilities in our electoral laws, like the very proviso now introduced by the Senate, to qualify direct electronic transmission.

“Such lacunae were exploited to subvert polling-unit outcomes during their tenure by those who denied them re-election party tickets, rendering them victims of the very defects they declined to remedy or introduce to the Act.

“A majority of incumbent legislators who were denied re-nomination tickets by party governors and principal officers of their parties, even when they secured alternative platforms thereafter, were ultimately defeated through manipulation of polling unit results during collation processes, despite robust grassroots support they legitimately obtained in their constituencies and won at polling units.

“The 10th Assembly now stands perilously close to replicating this lamentable pattern. Those Members not favoured or not in the good books of their respective State Governors or party leaders will foreseeably be denied tickets and, given the prospects of an unprotected or unsecured electronic transmission of polling unit results, will find it exceedingly difficult to translate constituency endorsement, however strong they may be, into electoral victory,” Igini said.

Lawmakers dug pits for opposition, fell into it — Analyst

A communication expert at Peaceland University, Nduka Odo, has criticised lawmakers complaining about alleged manipulation of party primaries after losing re-election tickets, saying they are victims of a system they helped create.

Speaking with ZINGTIE on Tuesday, Odo said many lawmakers failed to realise that amendments introduced into the Electoral Act would eventually be used against them.

According to him, politicians who once supported executive influence and party supremacy are now “wailing” after governors allegedly hijacked the primary process.

“This is how laws were supposed to be — like a double-edged sword. When laws are made, they affect everyone, including those who made them,” he said.

“They gladly dug pits for the opposition, forgetting that they too could fall into it.”

Odo argued that lawmakers handed excessive powers to governors through provisions in the Electoral Act without carefully considering the consequences.

“They were busy singing, ‘On Your Mandate, We Shall Stand,’ and failed to read and digest the amendment to the Electoral Act,” he added.

The communication scholar further accused the legislature and judiciary of abandoning their constitutional responsibility of checking the excesses of the executive arm of government.

According to him, Nigeria’s political system has been weakened by what he described as blind loyalty to the executive.

“The three arms of government are designed to check one another, but today the legislature and judiciary are standing on the mandate of the chief executive,” he stated.

He referenced remarks allegedly made by Desmond Elliot during the impeachment crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly as evidence of what he described as a “rubber-stamp legislature.”

Odo, however, expressed support for the Electoral Act Amendment, insisting that despite current challenges, the law would eventually strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and reduce political excesses.

“I like the Electoral Act Amendment. We may not see much of its positive impact now, but in time, we will appreciate its benefits,” he said.

He also maintained that politicians who lose party primaries should remain loyal to their parties and support whoever emerges as the party candidate.

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