The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries across Nigeria on Saturday produced a mix of results with far reaching political implications.

The exercise, which is the first among other primaries in the ruling party, was marked by political consolidation and surprising defeats that reshaped the party’s internal balance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While some lawmakers tightened their grip on power by securing return tickets for fourth and fifth terms, others saw their ambitions collapse in humiliating fashion despite incumbency and influence.

From heavyweight and hitherto influential federal lawmakers to first-time entrants, engineered by many of the governor’s strategic endorsements, the primaries delivered winners and casualties.

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Biggest Winners

ABBAS TAJUDEEN

The story of the biggest winners commenced in Kaduna State where House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, emerged as one of the biggest institutional winners after securing the ticket to return to the Green Chamber for the 5th term if he emerges victorious in next year’s election.

His unopposed or strongly supported emergence in his constituency reinforced his dominance within the APC legislative hierarchy and further stabilised his leadership position in the Green Chamber.

YUSUF BUHARI

One of the most symbolic wins came from Yusuf Buhari, son of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who clinched his first-ever APC ticket from Katsina. His entry into elective politics immediately elevated him into the national spotlight, marking a continuation of the Buhari political legacy within Nigeria’s ruling party.

For many within APC, his emergence is both symbolic and strategic, reflecting the enduring influence of the Buhari brand. Although no known political influence, Yusuf is expected to rub off on his father’s influence.

OLUMUYIWA DARAMOLA

Olumuyiwa Daramola emerged as one of the most politically important winners of the APC House of Representatives primaries in Ondo State because of the trajectory of the victory. He defeated a sitting House of Representatives member, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, in the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency with a wide margin to show one of the strongest signals of a shift in power.

Despite holding office, Odimayo could not command enough delegate loyalty to survive the contest. His political background as the son of a former minister gave him visibility, but his margin of victory shows that it went beyond name recognition. He was able to convert elite advantage into actual delegate strength.

Looking at the scale of the result (6,547 to 827 votes), Daramola’s victory suggests a consolidation of party structure behind him and fits into a pattern seen across several states where new entrants with strong political connections and organised backing are displacing sitting lawmakers.

LEKE ABEJIDE

Abejide
In Kogi, the attention shifted to Leke Abejide who was elected to represent Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a small opposition party with limited national structure in 2019. In 2023, he won another term. For years, his survival in the National Assembly was based less on party strength and more on his personal control of his constituency.

Following the recent crisis that rocked the ADC, he refused to heed the advice of Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, who asked him to stay back and scatter the ADC. His recent move into the APC ahead of the primaries was seen as a test of whether his political base was personal or bolstered by the platform that first brought him into office.

The outcome of the APC primaries answered that question clearly.

He secured the party’s ticket without major resistance which underscored that his influence in Yagba did not collapse when he left the ADC. Abejide’s victory signals not just a routine win but that despite the influence of the party, some constituencies may decide to go with popular candidates.

JAMES FALEKE
Hon James Faleke
Hon James Faleke
In Lagos, veteran lawmaker James Faleke secured yet another return ticket, strengthening his long-standing hold on Ikeja/Ojodu politics. Originally from Kogi State, he was first elected to represent the constituency in 2011 and has not lost any election since then.

Faleke’s consistent survival in high-stakes contests highlights his deep grassroots structure and enduring relevance within Lagos APC politics.

RAFIU AJAKAYE

The stories of the primaries are not only about incumbents surviving, but also those taking out incumbents. One of the states where this was more visible during the election is Kwara State, where Rafiu Ajakaye, former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emerged as one of the most significant winners of the entire exercise.

He defeated Ismail Tijani, member who currently represents Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun in the House of Representatives. The result immediately elevated him from a background strategist into a frontline political force. His victory was widely interpreted as a direct reflection of internal party realignment and the strength of the dominant political structure in the state.

ABDULQUAWIY OLODODO

Alongside Ajakaye, Abdulquawiy Olododo also emerged as a major winner after defeating Yinka Aluko popularly called original Home Boy in Kwara State. Ironically, Olododo, whose father, Cook, lost the ticket to Aluko, emerged through structured political alignment that saw multiple aspirants step down in his favour. As a serving commissioner, his emergence reflected the strength of executive-backed consensus-building within Kwara APC. If he wins in the next election, Olododo will represent representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Aluko is the incumbent.

OLUMIDE OSOBA

Son of former Ogun State Governor, Olumide Osoba, also emerged victorious, extending the Osoba political legacy into the next generation of legislative politics. His win reflects the continued strength of political dynasties within the APC structure. With the APC ticket, Osoba is set to return to the parliament for the fourth term.

ADAMU ABUBAKAR

Also, among the standout winners of the APC House of Representatives primaries is Adamu Abubakar, brother to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Adamu Abubakar clinched the party’s ticket for Chanchaga Federal Constituency in Niger State in what turned into a landslide contest that left no doubt about his dominance within the primary election.

More significantly, his emergence extends the political visibility of one of Nigeria’s most prominent military-era families into contemporary electoral politics, adding a new layer of legacy influence within the APC’s legislative contest.

KAUMI ZULUM

One of the major beneficiaries of the APC primaries is Dr. Kaumi Umara Zulum, who emerged unopposed as the flagbearer of the ruling party in Dikwa/Konduga/Mafa Federal Constituency of Borno State. With no known legislative background, the biological brother of the governor is seeking to take over from Hon Ibrahim Mohammed Buja, who has represented the constituency since 2019.

It is not every time that a political greenhorn stops a two-term lawmaker from returning to parliament but in the case of Dr Zulum, the forces behind him made him pull it through, unopposed.

BIGGEST LOSERS
NICHOLAS MUTU

On the other side of the divide, however, the APC primaries also produced some major losers. One of such is Nicholas Mutu, lawmaker who has been representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State since 1999.

Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Basil Okolobaowei Ganagana emerge the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer in the constituency.

One of the indications that Mutu was on his way out emerged last week when one of his constituents told him in clear terms that it was time to bid the chamber farewell.

“He hardly ever makes contributions of any kind at plenary or even committee sessions, and generally just occupies space, to the annoyance of his colleagues. How do you have a man in the parliament for a full generation of nearly 30 years without ever introducing a bill, sponsoring a motion or making contributions to national discourse? Indolence alone cannot fully explain such catastrophic failure. A near absolute lack of capacity is what we have and witnessing in the poor performance of Nicholas Mutu in the house,” the aggrieved constituent, Dr Eyiseifa Ebiowe, had said.

JULIUS IHONVBERE

One of the most humbling defeats is that of House Majority Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere. He failed to get his party ticket for Owan Federal Constituency (Owan East/Owan West).

His loss surprised many people in the party because he is one of the top leaders in the House of Representatives. It showed that even powerful lawmakers can lose support inside their own party at the constituency level.

CUBANA CHIEF PRIEST

Another big shock was the defeat of Paschal Okechukwu, celebrity businessman popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest. Despite his popularity and public attention, he failed to win the APC ticket for Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency seat in Imo State.

His loss signals a clear reality in politics that being popular outside the party does not always mean you can win inside the party. Chief Priest, who is known for flamboyance, has been trending online since the news of his loss broke.

The young politician who has met President Bola Tinubu and a known ally of the President’s son, became the topic online. But standing by his friend, Seyi Tinubu went on social media, posting “We know what you are capable of achieving. Bro, sometimes by losing a battle, you find a new way to win the war.”

If the loss of Cubana Chief Priest, a newbie in the game, came as a surprise, more surprising is the loss of four sitting members of the House of Representatives from Imo.

They are Matthew Nwogu, Miriam Odinaka Onuoha, Harrison Anozie Nwadike, and Emeka Martins Chinedu. Their defeat showed a major change in the APC structure in the state.

Across the country, many other sitting lawmakers also lost their tickets. The exercise showed the rise of new political actors, the survival of strong party leaders, and the fall of some powerful lawmakers who failed to keep their support.