No fewer than 54 serving members of the National Assembly have lost their tickets to seek re-election into the National Assembly at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
The APC held the House of Representatives and senatorial primaries on Saturday, 16 May and Monday, 18 May 2026, respectively.
Some of the losers are ranking lawmakers who have been in the National Assembly for decades, while others are principal officers in the Green and Red Chambers of the federal legislature.
In the House of Representatives, the losers include Hon. Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, Delta State); the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (Owan Federal Constituency, Edo State); Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun); and Mike Etaba (Obubra/Etung, Cross River).
Others are Ngozi Lawrence Okolie (Aniocha/Oshimili, Delta); David Zachariya (Igalamela/Idah, Kogi); Tijani Ahmed Ozigi (Okene/Ogori-Magongo, Kogi); Eseosa Iyawe (Oredo, Edo); Matthew Nwogu (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala, Imo); Miriam Onuoha (Okigwe North, Imo); and Chike Okafor (Okigwe South, Imo).
Those who also lost their primaries and are not returning to the National Assembly are Harrison Nwadike (Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele, Imo); Emeka Martins Chinedu (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte, Imo); Ismail Kayode (Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa, Kwara); Mansur Musa Jega (Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro, Kebbi); Muktar Muhammad (Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa Yankwashi, Jigawa); and Ibrahim Usman Auyo (Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa, Jigawa).
The lawmaker representing Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Hon. Sa’adu Wada Taura, equally lost the ticket for the seat in the 2027 general election to Yushau Muhammad through consensus.
Others like him who are not returning to the Green Chamber are Yusif Sa’idu Miga (Jahun/Miga, Jigawa); Dickson Tarkighir (Makurdi/Guma, Benue); Terseer Ugbor (Kwande/Ushongo, Benue); Sesoo Ikpagher (Vandeikya/Konshisha, Benue); Asema Achado (Gwer East/Gwer West, Benue); Sekav Iortyom (Buruku, Benue); David Ogewu (Oju/Obi, Benue); Bassey Akiba (Odukpani/Calabar Municipality, Cross River); and Daniel Asama (Jos North/Bassa, Plateau).
In the keenly contested primaries, the likes of Vincent Bulus (Langtang, Plateau); John Dafaan (Qua’anpan/Shendam/Mikang, Plateau); Ajang Iliya (Jos South/Jos East, Plateau); Jeremiah Umaru (Wamba/Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon); Ari Mohamed Abdul-Mumin (Nasarawa/Toto); Abiodun Akinlade (Ipokia/Yewa South, Ogun); and Tunji Akinosi (Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun) also lost out.
Also, Femi Ogunbanwo (Odogbolu/Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East, Ogun); Adesola Elegbeji (Remo, Ogun); and Jimi Odimayo (Okitipupa/Irele, Ondo) were defeated at the primaries by new entrants.
Donatus Mathew, an ex-commercial motorcycle rider who won a House of Representatives seat for Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna State on the platform of the Labour Party in 2023 but defected to the APC in December 2024, lost his bid to return to the Green Chamber through his new party.
Also defeated are Timilehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose, Ondo); Bashiru Dawodu (Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos); Kafilat Ogbara (Kosofe, Lagos); and the member representing Ekiti North II Federal Constituency, Akinlayo Kolawole, who lost the ticket to a former National Assembly member, Ibrahim Olarewaju.
Losers in the Senate are Ned Nwoko (Delta North), who was defeated by the immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; Neda Imasuen; Jibrin Isah, who represents Kogi East Senatorial District and is popularly known as Echocho; Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, who has represented Gombe Central District for four consecutive terms; and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central).
Also on the losers’ list are Senator Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North); Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East); Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central); Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South); Senator Emmanuel Udende, who lost the Benue North East District ticket to a former governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam; Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West); and Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central).
