By Ayo Kehinde
The Option A4 voting system adopted for the conduct of the House of Representatives race in Imo State yesterday led to the defeat of four incumbent members of the House during the All Progressives Congress primaries held across Imo State on Saturday ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Hope Uzodinma had proposed the option for the primaries, held across the 10 federal constituencies in the state.
The affected lawmakers are Matthew Nwogu (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala), Miriam Odinaka Onuoha (Okigwe South), Harrison Anozie Nwadike (Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele) and Emeka Martins Chinedu (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte).
Candidates who emerged from the exercise include Ngozi Pat-Ekeji for Aboh/Ngor-Okpala, Chukwudi Anyanwuocha for Ahiazu/Ezinihitte, Sandra Inyama for Ideato North/South, Canice Moore Nwachukwu Omeogo for Orlu/Orsu/Oru East, Jonas Okeke for Okigwe South, Uchenna Agasu for Okigwe North, Dibiagwu Eugene for Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru-West, Cosmos Maduba for.Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu/Njaba, Akarachi Amadi for Mbaike and Tochi Okere for Owerri federal constituency.
Obasa wins Agege Federal House of Reps APC Primaries unopposed
Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), has won the All Progressive Congress (APC) Agege Federal House of Representatives primary election unopposed.
Following his victorious outing, he thanked party faithful and members for their full support.
Obasa, while giving remarks after the election at Ward E Oyewole Primary Agege, thanked party stakeholders and members for giving him full support to represent Agege at the green chamber.
“This is another opportunity given to me by my constituents to represent them at the Federal House of Reps, and I am assuring them of more effective representation at the upper legislative chamber,” he said.
Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, a former Agege Local Government Chairman, said that people in Agege were behind the Lagos speaker and that was why the election went peacefully without any conflicts within the community.
“There’s no secret behind this primary; people in Agege really showed that they are behind our leader, our speaker Obasa.
“At the same time, it also shows that we are one in Agege and speak in one voice through our vote, and that the speaker is the aspirant and the candidate for Agege Federal Constituency.
“It is unopposed. Nobody is contesting with him
The former Agege chairman, also an Aspirant of LAHA Agege Constituency I, said that there were 11 wards in Agege Federal Constituency and all the party members had resolved to vote Obasa as their candidate for the House of Reps.
Mr Oladapo Yusuf, an aspirant vying for the Lagos State House of Assembly Agege Constituency II, said that the turnout of the party members was huge as people came out to support and vote their party flag bearer at the Federal House of Reps.
Hundreds of APC party members in Agege Federal Constituency trooped out enmasse to cast their vote for the Lagos speaker at the party primaries election on Saturday.
Deputy Speaker, Kalu, wins APC ticket for 3rd term bid
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Bende Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Kalu was elected unopposed during Saturday’s primary election of the party in Bende.
Kalu’s third term bid received a boost, when party members from the 13 wards that make up the constituency unanimously affirmed his candidacy.
The wards includes Alayi, Bende, Ezeukwu, Igbere, Item, Itumbuzo, Nkpa, Ntalakwu, Ozuitem, Ugwueke, Umu-Imenyi, Umuhu-Ezechi, and Uzuakoli.
The exercise, which began at the ward level, recorded a large turnout of party members and stakeholders that participated in the affirmation process.
Ward executives, stakeholders and delegates praised the deputy speaker for his quality leadership, effective legislative representation, and commitment to grassroots development since he assumed office.
They said that his emergence without opposition reflected the overwhelming confidence and trust reposed in him by APC members and constituents.
Speaking after the affirmation, Kalu thanked party faithful, community leaders, youth and women groups, and other constituents for their continued support and confidence in his leadership.
He pledged to sustain efforts to attract democratic dividends to the constituency, promote inclusive governance, and advance policies that would improve welfare and expand economic opportunities for the people.
Earlier, the Chairman, APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Abia, Mr Erasmus Cishak, assured the party members and aspirants of a peaceful, transparent, and hitch-free process across the state.
Cishak emphasised that the committee would uphold fairness and credibility and urged aspirants, delegates, and stakeholders to conduct themselves responsibly and abide by the rules.
Ihonvbere, House of Reps Majority Leader, Iyawe, lose return bids in Edo
The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere has lost his bid to return to the House after losing out in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for the Owan Federal Constituency.
Returning Officer, Kelvin Muhammed who announced the result at the Afuze office of the party said Hon Andrew Ijegbai a former Commissioner for Mining, won the election scoring 3695.
According to him, “Five people contested this election. They are Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, Hon. Abdul Oroh Professor Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Folly Ogedegbe and Barrister Stewart. “The scores are as follows, Honorable Andrew Ijegbia scored 3,695 votes. Honorable Abdul Oroh scored 1,740 votes while Professor Julius Ihonvbere scored 1,005 votes “Honourable Folly scored 505 votes. Barrister Scot scored 642 votes. Total vote cast is 7,587 and the winner of this contest which is the primary is Hon. Andrew Ijegbai.”
Similarly, Hon Eseosa Iyawe representing Oredo Federal Constituency lost his re-election bid. He was defeated by Dr. Paddy Iyamu who polled 7088 votes.
