*Brief Summary*
The All Progressives Congress 2026 National Assembly primaries produced a major shakeup, with at least 70 of the party’s 330 serving federal lawmakers losing their return tickets.
The outcome reflects the impact of stricter party screening, direct primaries, and the new Electoral Act 2026, which has raised the stakes for internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
*Key Highlights*
1. *Scale of Losses*: 58 House of Representatives members and 12 senators failed to secure return tickets. Many were high-profile incumbents.
2. *Direct Primaries in Use*: APC relied on direct primaries in most states, as mandated by Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, eliminating the use of indirect delegate systems.
3. *Disqualifications*: 44 senatorial aspirants were barred by the screening committee, including Tein Jack-Rich, Ipalibo Banigo, and Tammy Danagogo.
4. *Protests and Allegations*: Violence, vote-buying, and claims of manipulation marred exercises in Lagos, Ondo, and other states.
*Notable Losers, State, and Reasons*
- *Cross River*: Mike Etaba, Alex Egbona, Godwin Offiono, Emil Inyang, Bassey Akiba lost out. Egbona had defected to PDP before the deadline.
- *Rivers*: John Azubuike Opara, Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji Imombek Abiante, Boma Goodhead lost.
- *Delta*: Nicholas Mutu, Ngozi Lawrence Okolie lost; Okolie was defeated by Ndudi Elumelu.
- *Ekiti*: Abiodun Omoleye, Rufus Adeni Ojuawo, and one other incumbent crashed out after polling lower than challengers.
- *Ondo*: Six Reps incumbents lost, with only three retaining tickets.
- *Nasarawa*: Speaker Danladi Jatau, Jeremiah Umaru, and Ali Abdul-Mumin Muhammad were defeated in primaries held May 16, 2026.
- *Senate*: Ned Nwoko, Gbenga Daniel, Diket Plang, Osita Izunaso, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Olubiyi Fadeyi, Saliu Mustapha lost or stepped down.
Reasons include electoral defeat by challengers, disqualification by screening, defection issues, and consensus arrangements favoring other aspirants.
*Impact on the Next NASS and Electoral Act 2026*
The high turnover means the 11th National Assembly will have significant new faces. This is compounded by the Electoral Act 2026, which phases out indirect primaries and mandates direct primaries or consensus with written consent.
The Act also bars candidates from switching parties after the party register submission deadline of May 10, 2026, trapping many losers.
The Act strengthens credibility through mandatory electronic transmission of Form EC8A to IReV, making transmitted results admissible evidence in tribunals.
Tougher penalties now apply: up to 2 years jail for result manipulation, ₦10m fines for parties with false returns, and sanctions for REC misconduct.
However, civil society groups warn that last-minute amendments and voice votes without full text circulation undermine transparency.
*Facts and Figures*
- APC has 242 Reps and 88 senators seeking re-election.
- 70 lawmakers, about 21%, will not return.
- 44 aspirants were disqualified before senatorial primaries.
- Campaign spending limits rose: Senate to ₦500m, House to ₦250m.
- 2027 elections are set for Feb 20 for President/NASS and Mar 6 for Govs/State Houses.
*Recommendations*
1. APC should address grievances through internal reconciliation to prevent defections and post-primary litigation.
2. INEC must enforce strict compliance with direct primary guidelines and publish party registers early.
3. Civil society and media should monitor implementation of electronic transmission and penalty provisions to deter malpractice.
4. Aspirants should leverage consensus provisions responsibly to reduce rancor.
*Conclusion*
The 2026 APC primaries signal a shift toward competitive internal democracy, driven by the Electoral Act 2026.
While the losses open space for new leadership, the Act’s success in delivering credible 2027 elections will depend on transparent execution and accountability.
The coming months will test whether these reforms deepen public trust or expose new fault lines in Nigeria’s electoral system.
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