The All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded its House of Representatives primaries nationwide on Saturday, producing a mix of clear victories for high-profile figures and disputes in several states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the notable winners were Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and Yusuf Buhari, son of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Both secured the party’s tickets to contest federal constituencies in Lagos and Katsina states respectively.
The party also confirmed that 14 aspirants across five states were barred from participating in the primaries after failing the screening exercise. The decision was announced by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, who said the exercise followed party guidelines but did not disclose specific reasons for the disqualifications. Those affected included four sitting lawmakers from Ebonyi and Rivers states.
Obasa emerged as the APC candidate for Agege Federal Constituency without opposition. Addressing party members after the exercise, he pledged stronger representation at the National Assembly if elected.
In Katsina, Yusuf Buhari recorded a landslide victory in the Sandamu/Daura/Mai’adua constituency, polling thousands of votes while his closest rival managed only a handful. Supporters in the area described the result as a reflection of the Buhari family’s longstanding political influence in the state.
At the national level, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, was affirmed as the APC candidate for Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State for a fifth term after a ward-by-ward endorsement.
Similarly, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu secured the ticket to represent Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State unopposed, with party leaders across the wards backing his return.
Despite these outcomes, the exercise was marred by unrest in parts of Kaduna and Adamawa states.
In Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna, angry party supporters protested what they described as irregularities in the declaration of results. Eyewitness accounts indicated that tensions rose after allegations that no proper voting or counting took place before a winner was announced.
In Adamawa, protests erupted in Lamurde, Numan and Demsa over claims that results were declared without any voting. Some aspirants alleged that result sheets were filled in advance and that preferred candidates were imposed.
A former APC National Vice Chairman for the North-East, Umar Duhu, admitted there were lapses but urged aggrieved members to respect party decisions.
In Benue State, delays and reports of hijacked election materials disrupted the process in some constituencies, according to a factional party spokesperson.
Kwara witnessed dramatic ward-level outcomes, including instances where incumbents reportedly failed to secure votes in their home wards. One aspirant petitioned the party leadership, alleging manipulation of membership access to influence participation.
While controversies trailed the primaries in several locations, APC officials in multiple states described the process as peaceful and transparent.
Party leaders maintained that the primaries demonstrated the APC’s commitment to internal democracy, though observers warn that unresolved grievances could deepen internal divisions before the general elections.
