Primary elections of Senators who lost being reviewed – Akpabio

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that primary elections of Senators who lost in the just concluded primaries were being reviewed through the Senate leadership, expressing shock at the high number of casualties.

He raised the hopes of the affected Senators on Tuesday, assuring that the efforts to reconsider some of them would yield tickets to enable them contest elections in 2027.

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Welcoming Senators from a four week break, he expressed shock that many Senators lost out at primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Though, he secured his own ticket for Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District through affirmation, he said, the unfavourable outcomes of some Senators would be reviewed.

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Akpabio however congratulated Senators who failed to secure return tickets, assuring them that goodness await them form the push through Senate leadership of their cases.

According to him, there will always be victories and disappointments, but above “every individual triumph stands a greater triumph, the triumph of democracy itself.”

“And in this Senate, we have promised that we will have very few disappointments, and I do know that the Senate leader and the leadership of the Senate are working very hard towards that, so in advance, I will say congratulations to all of us across party lines,” he said.

Meanwhile, about 20 Senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, failed their primary elections in re-election bid, while others were disqualified by the APC Screening Committee.

Thise disqualified largely were lawmakers who recently defected from opposition parties and sought return tickets on the APC platform. They include Benson Agadaga, who represents Bayelsa East; Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South; and Banigo Ipalibo, who represents Rivers West Senatorial District.

The Electoral Act 2026 amendment introduced stricter regulations on party membership and candidate nominations, effectively blocking last-minute defections. Specifically, the amendment to Section 83 bars politicians from switching parties after membership registers have been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the same election cycle.

Many lawmakers who championed the anti-defection provision believed it would primarily affect opposition politicians seeking alternative platforms. However, the outcome of the primaries has shown that some of the architects of the provision have themselves become victims of the law they helped enact.

Among them is Deputy Senate Leader, Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), who lost the ticket to a former commissioner of the Federal Character Commission, Muheebah Dankaka.

Ned Nwoko( APC, Delta North) lost the APC ticket to a former governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa, by a wide margin. Neda Imasuen of Edo South Senatorial District, who lost to former House of Representatives member Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, while Kogi East Senator, Isah Jibrin, was defeated by Erico Ameh.

In Osun State, Olubiyi Fadeyi lost the Osun Central Senatorial District ticket to Kunle Adegoke in a closely contested primary. In Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel lost to Governor Dapo Abiodun, while Danjuma Goje lost the Gombe Central ticket to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed. In Imo West, Governor Hope Uzodimma won the APC senatorial primary, displacing incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso.

Meanwhile, a few hours before the APC primary in Bauchi State, Buba Shehu, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District, resigned from the party and joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Several of the affected lawmakers have since protested the outcomes of the primaries.

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