According to a report by The Vanguard on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, no fewer than 70 serving lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly have lost their return tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.…....
The casualties include 58 members of the House of Representatives and 12 Senators, many of whom cannot pursue their ambitions elsewhere due to the expiration of the INEC window for political parties to submit membership registers.
Prominent federal lawmakers who defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC, including Donatus Matthew, Esosa Iyawe, and Senator Neda Imasuen, failed to secure their tickets.
In the Senate, big names like Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Saliu Mustapha (Kwara), and Ned Nwoko (Delta North) also suffered major setbacks.
In Benue State, former Governor Gabriel Suswam staged a dramatic comeback, defeating incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende in a landslide victory, while Senator Titus Zam also lost his seat.
Meanwhile, widespread protests, violence, and allegations of manipulation have trailed the exercises across multiple states.
In Ondo Central, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire narrowly escaped death after armed thugs invaded his polling unit in Akure and shot at his vehicle when it became clear he was leading the vote count.
Similar disruptions were reported in Kaduna, Cross River, and Ekiti states, where aggrieved aspirants like Yusuf Zailani and Ayo Arise flatly rejected the results.
The APC National Working Committee has stepped in to manage the brewing crisis. National Secretary Ajibola Basiru clarified that state committees overreached by declaring winners directly from local collation centers, insisting that all final results must be ratified and announced at the party’s Abuja headquarters to resolve pending petitions.
