The contest for APC return tickets has triggered major political shakeups as more than 70 serving National Assembly members reportedly lost party primaries ahead of the 2027 elections. The growing return tickets crisis has affected senators and House of Representatives members across several states, exposing widening internal divisions within the ruling party. Reports from the nationwide primaries show that the struggle for APC return tickets has produced unexpected defeats, protests, and legal threats from aggrieved aspirants.
The All Progressives Congress recently concluded legislative primaries across multiple states as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The exercise covered Senate and House of Representatives positions nationwide.
Internal competition within the party intensified following consensus arrangements, disqualifications, and delegate-based contests in several constituencies. Political stakeholders across states also accused rival factions of manipulating the process in favour of preferred candidates.
The outcome has reshaped the political landscape within the National Assembly. Several long-serving lawmakers and influential party figures failed to secure nominations to contest another term under the APC platform.
Reports from the primaries indicate that prominent senators lost their bids for renomination across multiple states. Among those affected were Senators Ned Nwoko, Smart Adeyemi, Mohammed Sani Musa, and former Senate spokesperson Ajibola Basiru, according to reports surrounding the APC exercises.
Within the House of Representatives, several incumbents also failed to retain party nominations. In Benue State alone, lawmakers linked to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, reportedly lost tickets to candidates aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia.
In Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi lost his third-term bid after polling 5,849 votes against John Tongshinen’s 29,968 votes during the direct primary election. Edo State also recorded major upsets. Eseosa Iyawe lost the Oredo Federal Constituency ticket to former Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu.
In Delta State, longtime lawmaker Nicholas Mutu lost the APC ticket for Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency after years in the House of Representatives. Similar outcomes were recorded in Jigawa, Kwara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, and Imo states.
The primaries also generated protests and threats of legal action. Some aspirants accused party leaders of imposing candidates through manipulated consensus arrangements and delegate lists. In Zamfara, senatorial aspirant Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi vowed to challenge the process in court after alleging exclusion from the exercise.
The growing battle over APC return tickets reflects deeper internal tensions within the ruling party ahead of 2027. Analysts say the scale of defeats could significantly reshape APC’s legislative structure after the elections.
For lawmakers who lost primaries, the development limits opportunities for political continuity under the party platform. Nigeria’s Electoral Act restricts candidates from switching parties after losing primaries except under limited conditions.
For the APC, the primaries have exposed factional competition between governors, party executives, and influential political blocs. Political observers warn that unresolved grievances could weaken party cohesion before the general elections. The outcome may also alter power dynamics within the National Assembly if many experienced lawmakers fail to return after 2027.
