APC Primary Winners Uneasy Over Akpabio’s Assistance to Defeated Lawmakers

Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s comments, meant to reassure serving senators who lost tickets in the recently concluded party primaries, have generated anxiety among victorious aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The aspirants fear that despite their winning their primaries, the outcome could still be changed in favour of senate president’s colleagues who are incumbent senators.

Most of those raising concerns are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who suspect Akpabio could use his clout within the party to secure tickets for some defeated lawmakers.

In his welcome address after the Senate resumed from a three-week recess, Akpabio had told senators who could not get their party tickets that the leadership of the National Assembly was still working to address the situation.

He congratulated successful lawmakers across party lines but lamented on the number of defeats recorded during the primaries.

“I congratulate the political parties, one or two of which emanated from these chambers. They’ve just completed their primaries and all their internal democratic processes. My congratulations go out particularly to those who have secured their mandates to represent their parties in the next general election.

“In this Senate, we were told we would have very few disappointments. I do know the Senate Leader and the rest of the leadership are working very hard to address these issues. So, in advance, I say congratulations to all of us, across party lines.”

Following the remarks, Akpabio took senators into a closed-door executive session that lasted more than two hours.

Tinubu, Akpabio Meet Senators
Daily Trust also gathered that Akpabio and other principal officers of the Senate held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Although details of the meeting were not disclosed, insiders said the talks focused on possible options for some sitting senators who lost their primaries.

Before the Senate went on recess, the leadership had told senators that in a number of states lawmakers would be given automatic return tickets or consensus arrangements.

However, only Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West) and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), got automatic tickets.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, the three senators from Borno State and senators from Lagos State secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements.

40 Senators lose their tickets
According to the results announced by the party, 60 of the 105 incumbent senators were given return tickets while some 40 lost their bids.

Others who lost include Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, Jibrin Isah, Gbenga Daniel, Ned Nwoko, Abbas Aminu Iya, Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, Titus Zam, Emmanuel Udende, William Eteng Jonah, Neda Imasuen, Danjuma Goje, Francis Ezenwa, Musa Garba, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, Diket Plang and Ipalibo Harry Banigo.

Some senators also lost after competing in their state’s governorship primaries.

They include Saliu Mustapha, Abdulfatai Buhari, Shehu Buba, and Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi.

Some APC primaries winners have also expressed worry about the delay in issuing Certificates of Return.

They said the delay could be part of efforts to manipulate the final list of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

An anonymous successful aspirant from Kwara State said those who defeated incumbent lawmakers were becoming increasingly suspicious.

She said, “We are now suspicious of the games being played by the national leadership of the party, some of us who defeated incumbent legislators at both the state and national levels.

“We were told that the President is wading in to manage any crisis that might arise after the final results are released. “We’ve been worried ever since then.”

Another successful aspirant from Gombe State said Akpabio’s comments required clarification.

“We cannot comment on the statement now, it is not clear. We are trying to seek clarification before we react,” he said.

APC Aites Appeals Process
But party officials said the delay was in line with established procedures.

Abimbola Tooki, the media aide, stated that the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said that before the winners are officially announced, the party’s primary guidelines called for the correct gathering of results and the settling of appeals.

“The guidelines provided for the conduct of the primaries were very clear and unambiguous. Results from the different levels were to be collated properly, the formal declaration of winners would only come after the appeal processes have been concluded,” Said Tooki.

He added aggrieved aspirants had the right to seek redress through party’s appeal mechanism.

Some aspirants, however, argued that the delay had further deepened fears that the outcome of the primaries could still be altered administratively.

They also noted that President Tinubu had already been issued with his Certificate of Return after he won the APC presidential primary, while many other winning aspirants were still waiting.

“The President has been given his Certificate of Return, so why should the others be delayed? The party should not give the impression that some candidates are more valid than others,” one candidate said.