Several serving members of the House of Representatives failed to secure return tickets during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries held across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the prominent lawmakers who lost out was the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, whose bid for a third term representing Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State ended in defeat.
He lost the APC ticket to former Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai, amid reports of a zoning arrangement between Owan East and Owan West.
In Edo State, another serving lawmaker, Eseosa Iyawe, lost the APC ticket for Oredo Federal Constituency to former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu. Iyawe is among the lawmakers who got elected on the platform of Labour Party but defected to the APC after some years in the Green Chamber.
In Imo State, four incumbent House members were denied return tickets.
They include Matthew Nwogu representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala, Miriam Onuoha of Okigwe South, Harrison Nwadike representing Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele, and Emeka Martins Chinedu of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.
Also affected was Ismail Kayode, the incumbent representative for Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa Federal Constituency in Kwara State, who lost to former Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye.
In Kebbi State, incumbent lawmaker Mansur Musa Jega lost the APC ticket for Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro Federal Constituency following a consensus arrangement that produced former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Jafar Ahmed Jega.
Similarly, four serving lawmakers in Jigawa State lost their return tickets during the primaries.
They are Muktar Muhammad representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Usman Auyo of Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency, Sa’adu Wada Taura representing Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency, and Yusif Sa’idu Miga of Jahun/Miga Federal Constituency.
