One of the major upsets in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries occurred in Edo State, where House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, lost the Owan Federal Constituency ticket.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Ihonvbere was defeated by a former Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai.
According to Punch, the House Leader rejected the outcome, alleging that no proper election took place.
Ihonvbere stated, “I did not lose the election. They did not even come to the field. They wrote some meaningless results and abused the returning officer to make an announcement.
“I’m a party man. So, I will go to appeal.”
Iyawe Aalleges Irregularities
Another Edo lawmaker, Esosa Iyawe, also lost the Oredo Federal Constituency ticket to former Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu.
Iyawe, who defected from the Labour Party to the APC in 2024, rejected the result and alleged widespread irregularities and violence.
He said, “The process fell far short of the democratic standards and directives laid down by President Bola Tinubu.
“Some of my supporters were assaulted and prevented from participating freely.”
Party loyalists in Edo accused the APC leadership of using the screening process to settle political scores ahead of the 2027 elections.
Henry Okojie emerged unopposed as the APC candidate for Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency.