The outcome of the recently concluded All Progressives Congress National Assembly primaries has sparked widespread complaints, with several defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and other opposition parties reportedly submitting petitions to the APC National Assembly Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The APC held its nationwide primaries between May 16 and May 23, 2026, beginning with House of Representatives contests and ending with the presidential primary, to nominate candidates for the 2027 general elections.
However, the exercise has generated protests from many aspirants who lost out, particularly serving members of the National Assembly who defected to the ruling party after winning their seats on the platforms of opposition parties.
Reports indicate that more than 120 members of the Senate and House of Representatives defected from the parties that brought them into the National Assembly. Many of them sought APC tickets to return to office but failed to secure the party’s nomination.
Among those affected are Hon. Nicholas Mutu, who represents Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State and had defected from the PDP after serving seven terms in the National Assembly; Hon. Mike Etaba of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, Cross River State; and Hon. Ngozi Okolie of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Delta State, who left the Labour Party for the APC.
Others include Hon. Esosa Iyawe of Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo State; Hon. Matthew Nwogu of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Imo State; Hon. Mansur Musa Jega of Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro Federal Constituency, Kebbi State; and Hon. Bassey Akiba of Odukpani/Calabar Municipality Federal Constituency, Cross River State.
Also listed among defectors who lost APC tickets are Hon. Daniel Asama of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau State; Hon. Ajang Iliya of Jos South/Jos East; and Hon. Donatus Mathew, the former commercial motorcyclist who won the Kaura Federal Constituency seat in Kaduna State on the Labour Party platform in 2023 before defecting to the APC in December 2024.
In the Senate, Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North, who dumped the PDP for the APC, lost the party’s ticket, as did Senator Neda Imasuen of Edo South, who was elected on the Labour Party platform in 2023 before joining the APC.
Several aspirants were also disqualified before the primaries. They include Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante of Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Boma Goodhead of Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, retired Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara, and Anderson Allison Igbiki, all from Rivers State.
Senator Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East, who defected from the PDP to the APC, and Senator Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South were also reportedly disqualified.
Although Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara said he voluntarily withdrew from the APC governorship primary after obtaining the party’s ₦50 million nomination form and undergoing screening, his withdrawal has continued to generate political debate.
Fubara said he stepped aside not out of weakness or fear, but as a sacrifice for peace and unity in Rivers State.
However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the governor ought not to have purchased the APC nomination form in the first place, claiming there had been an earlier agreement that impeachment proceedings would be dropped while Fubara would not seek a second term.
The outcome of the primaries has renewed debate over the use of consensus and direct primaries under the Electoral Act 2026.
Some aspirants and analysts alleged that the two recognised methods were abused by party stakeholders to shut out unwanted aspirants, especially defectors.
Under Section 87 of the Electoral Act, a political party that adopts a consensus candidate must secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants, indicating their voluntary withdrawal and endorsement of the consensus candidate.
Where such written consent is not obtained, the party is expected to revert to direct primaries.
However, some aggrieved aspirants alleged that the consensus option was used to impose preferred candidates, while the direct primaries were marred by irregularities, intimidation and manipulation.
Senator Ned Nwoko accused APC leaders of deception, saying he was promised an automatic return ticket before defecting from the PDP to the ruling party.
Nwoko lost the Delta North APC senatorial ticket to former Delta State governor and former PDP vice-presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
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