Party primaries upend Benue’s National Assembly lineup ahead of 2027 elections

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

Six sitting House of Representatives members from Benue State lost their bids to return to the National Assembly after being defeated in Saturday’s All Progressives Congress primary elections.

The upset reshapes APC’s legislative slate in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Those who failed to secure return tickets are:

• Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency
• Hon. Austin Asema Achado, Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency
• Hon. Sekav Iortyom, Buruku Federal Constituency
• Hon. Terseer Ugbor, Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency
• Hon. Sesoo Ikpagher, Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency
• Hon. David Ogewu, Obi/Oju Federal Constituency

Their replacements include Engr. Christopher Ikper for Makurdi/Guma, Engr. Terhemba Nongo for Gwer East/Gwer West, Prof. Kohol Iornem for Kwande/Ushongo, Chief Engr. Livinus Tsar for Vandeikya/Konshisha, Hon. Peter Oboh Egbodi for Obi/Oju, Hon. Gideon Inyom for Buruku, and Hon. Anthony Agom for Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu.

Not all incumbents fell. Hon. Mrs. Regina Akume, wife of Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume, secured the ticket for Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency for a second term.

Hon. Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President and ADC Chairman Dr. David Mark, won her bid for a third term in Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency.

Hon. Prince Solomon Wombo of Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo and Hon. Ojotu Ojema of Apa/Agatu also retained their tickets for second-term runs.

The results were announced at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi by National Assembly Primary Elections Committee Chairman Alhaji Sa’idu Mahuta, who supervised the exercise.

The outcome signals a major shakeup in Benue’s political landscape and sets up a contested general election battle for several federal constituencies.

–Daura alleges rigging

By Our Reporter

Late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, has beaten Auwalu Musa Daura, son of ex DSS DG, Lawal Daura, to clinch the All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket for the Sandamu/ Daura/Mai’adua Federal Constituency.

Chairman of the constituency’s APC primary election committee, Lawan Garba, said Yusuf Buhari secured 17,342 votes, defeating his opponent, Auwalu Musa Daura, who polled 480 votes.

Garba therefore declared Yusuf Buhari as the APC flag bearer for the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency in the forthcoming general elections.

Buhari, in his acceptance speech, expressed appreciation to party members and supporters for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to work with all stakeholders and supporters of the party including his opponent to ensure APC’s victory in the 2027 elections.

“I will embrace everyone and carry all party members along to ensure that APC emerges victorious in the general elections. I sincerely thank the people of Daura, Sandamu and Mai’adua for coming out in large numbers to support me,” he said.

However, Auwalu Lawan Daura, rejected the outcome of the exercise, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the primary election.

Speaking to the press shortly after the exercise, Daura said he was dissatisfied with the manner in which the direct primary was conducted: “I am not satisfied with what happened today. Evidence is everywhere showing the injustice that was done. The manner of counting was highly questionable, and most of the people counted did not even have party membership cards.”

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

Following the widespread internal rift that reigns across the states’ APC chapters due to the imposition of candidates via purportedly consensus, arrangements that were after all not consensual, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) last night reportedly had a rethink about the “consensus” mode of primary elections.

The decision for direct primaries may not be unconnected with the widespread resistance from aspirants and grassroots members across the 360 federal constituencies especially as the party is witnessing aspirants and their supporters grumbling, a development that may adversely affect its electoral fortunes.

Last night, the APC shifted the House of Representatives primary election for the 2027 general elections to Saturday, 16th May, 2026, noting that the adjustment affects only the House of Representatives primaries, while dates for other elections remain unchanged. The shift in date for house of representatives may help to effectively and efficiently handle logistics for the direct primaries.

President Bola Tinubu worried by the internal crises has called on members of the ruling party to uphold unity, fairness and sportsmanship as the party commences its nationwide primary elections.

In a statement released ahead of the primaries, he said the exercise is a defining moment for the party, noting that the APC, founded on the principles of progressive politics, consensus-building and sacrifice, was preparing for its fourth electoral cycle since inception.

His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, released the statement in which President Tinubu also called on APC leaders across the federation to conduct primary elections wherever consensus failed.

“Election is an essential ingredient of democracy. Where consensus fails, I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters.

“In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time. The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.”

We recall that the NWC had advocated for consensus in what was designed to bolster party cohesion, but that expectation has since failed with the avalanche of internal crises across the states.

With the party’s Organising Department on Thursday dispatching election materials and result sheets to all states signals the green light for direct primaries. This flexibility may turn out to be a master move as losers in a transparently conducted contest may be more disposed to accepting its outcome: favourable or not.