APC Senators Lose 2027 Tickets As Anti-defection Law Disrupts Primaries
APC senators lose 2027 tickets as anti-defection law disrupts primaries Several ruling party lawmakers were defeated or disqualified during APC primaries as stricter Electoral Act 2026 provisions reshaped the race ahead of the 2027 elections. Several serving senators of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress have lost their return tickets for the 2027 National Assembly elections after dramatic primary contests and the enforcement of new anti defection provisions introduced under the Electoral Act 2026.The developments emerged during the party’s nationwide primaries, where a number of prominent lawmakers either suffered defeat at the polls or were disqualified during the screening process. Among the major political upsets was the defeat of Senator Ned Nwoko in Delta North Senatorial District. Nwoko lost the APC ticket to former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by a wide margin. In Edo South, Senator Neda Imasuen was defeated by former House of Representatives member Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, while Senator Jibrin Isah, popularly known as Echocho, lost the Kogi East ticket to Dr Erico Ameh. The Electoral Act 2026 also played a significant role in the outcome of the primaries. The amended law introduced stricter anti-defection provisions that barred politicians from switching parties after membership registers had been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the same election cycle. Some lawmakers who had recently defected or were linked to multiple party affiliations reportedly fell victim to the rules they previously supported in parliament. Senators Ipalibo Banigo, Benson Agadaga and Abdulhamid Madori were among those disqualified during the screening exercise.Despite the setbacks suffered by some lawmakers, several APC heavyweights secured their return tickets. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele all emerged successfully from the primaries. Across several states, the primaries were also marked by allegations of manipulation, protests, consensus disputes and fears of violence, reflecting growing internal tensions within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
- Several APC senators lost return tickets during 2027 primaries
- Electoral Act 2026 anti-defection rules affected screening
- Ned Nwoko lost Delta North ticket to Ifeanyi Okowa
- Some senators disqualified over party membership issues
- APC primaries witnessed disputes, protests and political tension
