The speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, was on Saturday returned unopposed as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Zaria Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.
The Speaker was returned through an affirmation by the APC registered members in the 13 electoral wards of Zaria Federal Constituency.
The 13 electoral wards are Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, LimancinKona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
This is even as the Speaker announced that he would continue to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in him by his constituents, saying he will never disappoint them, noting, “My best days as your representative are ahead.”
The exercise, which took place at the 13 electoral wards simultaneously, began at about 10 a.m. on Saturday. Thousands of APC members at the federal constituency trooped to the various offices of the party at the electoral wards for the exercise.
Obasa secures ticket to represent Agege Federal Constituency
A massive crowd of party faithful thronged Agege as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, secured his place as the party’s consensus candidate for the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
The hitch-free primary exercise saw card-carrying members in their numbers validate his candidacy, underscoring the strength of his grassroots support. The development comes just days after Obasa’s May 13 declaration at a stakeholders’ meeting in Agege, where he announced his ambition to contest for the federal seat.
At that earlier event, he explained that his decision was driven by calls from party leaders and stakeholders who believed he could serve Agege more effectively at the national level.
Party officials praised the peaceful conduct of the exercise, noting that it reflected the unity and discipline within the APC in Agege.
Late Buhari’s son, Yusuf, wins with massive 5,849 votes
The son of Nigeria’s former President, the Late Muhammadu Buhari, Yusuf Muhammadu Buhari, recorded a crushing victory in the election for the Sandamu/ Daura/Mai’adua FederaConstituency seat.
Yusuf Buhari secured an overwhelming 5,849 votes to defeat Hon. Auwal Lawal Daura, who polled just 21 votes, in a result that has stirred major reactions across Katsina political circles.
Preferred aspirants emerge in Edo Reps.
Preferred aspirants of the leadership of the ruling party and Monday Okpebholo on Saturday emerged winners in the House of Representatives primary elections conducted across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
The exercise, which was monitored in different parts of the state, was generally described as peaceful by party officials and stakeholders. In Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, the APC chairman, Mr. Monday Oseh, said the exercise was smooth and peaceful, noting that the party’s preferred candidate emerged victorious.
Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Kassim Otono, declared that Oladele Bankole-Balogun polled 3,368 votes to defeat other aspirants, including Paul Afeghase, who scored 1,663 votes, and Adetutu Owolabi, who secured 793 votes.
In Etsako Federal Constituency, Embassy Momodu, an aide to the preferred aspirant, Hon. Anamero Dakeri, popularly known as Danco, disclosed that Dakeri had already been declared the winner and emerged as the party’s candidate after defeating four other aspirants.
Also, in Oredo Federal Constituency, former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, emerged as the APC candidate.
Similarly, the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, emerged as the party’s candidate for Ovia Federal Constituency. Results from the remaining five Federal Constituencies were still being expected at the time of filling this report.
Tight security in Osun
There was a heavy security presence at the designated venues on Saturday as the party commenced its primary election in several wards in Osun state.
When our correspondent visited some of the venues, armed security personnel were seen maintaining strict surveillance around the designated venues, while party supporters and curious residents gathered at a distance.
It was gathered that the leadership of the party was working to consolidate consensus arrangements among aspirants in most of the federal constituencies.
Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee, Bayo Ayo, said the process had been peaceful and that people were eager and anxious to exercise their voting rights.
Diri commends party unity
Speaking at his Sampou/ Kalama Ward 6 in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State said that internal unity and cohesion were the strength of the APC in the state.
The exercise witnessed the endorsement by consensus of the incumbent Yenagoa/ Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oforji Oboku, by 2,565 members of the party in the ward, including Governor Diri.
According to the governor, “in Bayelsa, we have been able to bring the APC together, and we are acting as one family. What you have witnessed is being replicated across the other four federal constituencies in the state.
The leadership of the party has worked tirelessly to ensure unity, avoid division, and position the party for success in the forthcoming general election.”
The governor expressed satisfaction with reports from other constituencies, noting that the peaceful and orderly conduct of the primary in the ward was consistent with developments across the state.
…Begins direct primaries for NASS seats, promises free, fair process
The All Progressives Congress on Saturday, May 16, commenced its primaries in Bayelsa State to elect candidates for the House of Representatives and Senate ahead of the general elections.
Solomon Ogba, Chairman of the APC Electoral Panel for the National and House of Representatives primaries in the state, gave assurances that the exercise would be free, fair, and transparent.
Speaking in Yenagoa on Saturday while announcing the start of the exercise, Ogba expressed satisfaction with the presence of all relevant institutions monitoring the process.
“We are here to conduct the process of selecting our candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate for the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State,” Ogba said.
“I’m happy that all the institutions associated with this exercise are here. The committee has already distributed sensitive materials to all polling units across the state.”
A’ibom police warn hoodlums against disrupting exercise
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday issued a strong warning to all individuals or groups planning to cause violence, disrupt public peace, intimidate delegates, snatch election materials, sponsor thugs, or engage in any form of criminality during the exercise in the State to immediately desist from such unlawful acts.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, told journalists on Saturday that the Command wishes to make it unequivocally clear that adequate security arrangements have been put in place across all designated venues to ensure a peaceful, credible, and hitch-free exercise.
According to her, “Tactical teams, intelligence operatives, patrol units, and other security assets have been strategically deployed across the State to maintain law and order.
Aspirants win wards in Ondo
Aspirants on the platform of the party claimed victory in their various wards in choosing candidates in Ondo State. For instance, Hon Femi Fadairo won his Ward 8 in OkeAro in Akure Local Government with 6,500 votes, while other aspirants did not record any votes in the area. The immediate past Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (Central) to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the exercise as peaceful and commended party members in Ward 8 for what he called an overwhelming demonstration of support.
Shifts exercise in Zamfara to Monday
In Zamfara State, the party rescheduled the exercise to Monday. The party said the primaries would be conducted across designated ward centers in the state.
This was contained in a notice issued to journalists by the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Zamfara State, Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu.
He urged aspirants and party supporters to rely strictly on official communications from the committee tasked with conducting the primaries for accurate information and guidance.
Aliyu warned the public against relying on unofficial reports, describing any information outside the committee’s official notice as “unauthorized, null, and void.”
Niger Rep Abdullahi hails stakeholders over emergence
The Member representing Bida/Gbako/Katc Federal Constituency and Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (SMA), has expressed profound appreciation to the leadership and stakeholders of the party across Bida, Gbako, and Katcha Federal Constituency following his emergence as the consensus candidate of the party for the 2027 General Elections.
Abdullahi, particularly expressed deep appreciation to His Excellency, the Farmer Governor of Niger State, Umar Mohammed Bago, for the critical role he played in his emergence as consensus candidate, as well as for the confidence and trust reposed in him over the years.
Party lauds Enugu’s exercise as free, fair, exemplary
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Enugu State chapter of the party for what it described as free, fair, credible, and exemplary House of Representatives primary elections in the state.
This was even as Governor Peter Mbah joined other party faithful in Owo Ward, Nkanu East LGA, to affirm the Member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, who was the only aspirant standing for the primary election, as the party’s House of Representatives candidate in the 2027 general elections.
Addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Enugu after observing the exercise in Owo Ward and other parts of the state, Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Enugu State, Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, expressed satisfaction with the process and outcome of the primary elections in the wards monitored firsthand by members of his team, as well as the reports reaching them from various parts of the state.
