APC Halts Declaration Of Reps Primary Results Nationwide Amid Rising Tension

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress has directed panels conducting House of Representatives primaries across the country to stop announcing winners.
Instead, the party ordered all committees to collate their reports and submit them directly to the APC national headquarters in Abuja.
A source close to the party leadership disclosed that the decision followed several complaints from stakeholders in different states over the conduct of the primaries.
According to an internal APC memo dated May 17 and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Mohammed Argungu, all National Assembly Primary Election Committees were instructed to halt media briefings and public declarations of results.
The memo, titled “Central Results Collation and Announcement Centre,” stated that results must follow established procedures, including ward collation, local government collation, constituency collation, and final submission to the party headquarters.
It added that only the national headquarters in Abuja has the authority to conduct official briefings after reviewing all submitted reports.
Attempts by journalists to confirm the directive from APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, and Argungu were unsuccessful as of press time.
Ondo Crisis Triggers Concern
The development comes amid growing tension in Ondo State after the state’s seven-member National Assembly Primary Election Committee reportedly refused to declare the results of the House of Representatives primaries.
Sources revealed that the committee secretary, Adamu Mohammed Shamaki, alongside two other members, returned to Abuja following disagreements within the panel, leaving the chairman and remaining members stranded in Akure.
Party insiders alleged that some committee members were pressured to announce certain aspirants as winners, including individuals previously disqualified from the race.
The secretary was said to have resisted attempts to declare a list of alleged consensus candidates reportedly backed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, insisting that only the NWC could take such decisions after reviewing the reports.
Three disqualified aspirants — Adefisoye Tajudeen, Olusegun Ategbole, and Ayodele Arowole — were reportedly among the governor’s preferred candidates and still participated in the exercise.
Party sources also questioned the presence of APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, at the collation centre despite not being a member of the committee.
The crisis has raised fears over the smooth conduct of the party’s senatorial primaries scheduled to hold next.
Dozens Of Lawmakers Lose APC Tickets
Meanwhile, the APC primaries have produced major political upsets across the country, with no fewer than 36 serving House of Representatives members reportedly losing their return tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
States affected include Nasarawa, Niger, Cross River, Ondo, Rivers, Kogi, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Kwara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Delta, Plateau, Benue, and Ekiti.
Among notable lawmakers affected are House Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, who denied reports that he lost his ticket, longtime Delta lawmaker Nicholas Mutu, and Plateau federal lawmaker Yusuf Ademu Gagdi.
In Benue State, several loyalists of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, lost their return tickets.
However, Akume’s wife, Regina Akume, secured the APC ticket for the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency seat.
Gov Alia Tightens Grip On Benue APC
Following the outcome of the primaries, Governor Hyacinth Alia is believed to have consolidated control of the APC structure in Benue State, weakening the long-standing political influence of Akume within the party.
Sources said Akume had earlier pushed for automatic tickets for Governor Alia’s loyalists during reconciliation talks, but the governor insisted that all aspirants must participate in direct primaries.
One Feared Dead At Plateau Primary Venue
Tragedy also struck in Plateau State during the APC House of Representatives primary election in Mangu Local Government Area.
A resident identified as Sani Abdullahi was reportedly shot dead after violence broke out at the venue following delays in the commencement of the exercise.
Eyewitnesses said angry youths protesting the delay clashed with security personnel, who allegedly opened fire after stones were thrown at them.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, with calls for a thorough investigation into the killing.