No fewer than 70 serving National Assembly (NASS) members elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not return to the federal parliament in 2027.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that this follows the outcome of the party’s House of Representatives and Senate primaries, although the final results are still being awaited in some constituencies.
The APC currently has 242 members in the House of Representatives and 88 senators, many of whom are seeking re-election.
However, preliminary outcomes from the primaries showed that at least 58 members of the House of Representatives and 12 senators have lost their chances of returning to the National Assembly.
Among those affected is Rep Donatus Matthew, popularly known as the “okada rider,” who represents Kaura Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.
Matthew was elected on the Labour Party (LP) platform but recently defected to the APC. He was, however, disqualified during the party’s screening exercise.
Other former LP lawmakers who defected to the APC but failed to secure return tickets include Esosa Iyawe, who lost the Oredo Federal Constituency ticket in Edo State to Dr Paddy Iyamu.
Others are Senator Neda Imasuen of Edo South, Tochukwu Okere from Imo State, Bassey Akiba from Cross River State, and Daulyop Fom from Plateau State.
Senators Affected
Some APC senators also failed to secure return tickets after losing in the primaries, withdrawing from the race or stepping down.
They include Senators Gbenga Daniel, Ogun East; Diket Plang, Plateau Central; Osita Izunaso, Imo West; Emmanuel Udende, Benue North-East; Titus Zam, Benue West; Olubiyi Fadeyi, Osun Central; Saliu Mustapha, Kwara; and Ned Nwoko, Delta North.
The affected lawmakers may also be unable to pursue their ambitions on another political platform due to provisions of the Electoral Act and election guidelines.
The deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers reportedly lapsed on May 10.
This means the lawmakers who lost out in the APC primaries may be unable to switch parties to contest the 2027 general elections.