APC House of Representatives nominations: Polls plagued by unrest, clashes, and candidate disqualifications

The All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives primaries, which took place across the country, were marked by intense maneuvering, drama, and protests, with some aspirants emerging unopposed and others winning by a narrow margin.

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Incidents of disputed disqualifications and withdrawals were also reported, with Oyo State, Ekiti, Ondo, Abuja South, parts of Lagos, and Cross River being notable flashpoints, while peaceful primaries were held in Bayelsa, Borno, Imo, and Anambra, among other states.

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Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had the upper hand in the battle for Rivers, with many of Governor Siminalayi Fubara's loyalists being disqualified by the APC hierarchy.

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The APC released a list of 14 aspirants who were screened but disqualified from participating, citing failure to meet the party's established screening criteria, with National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka stating that the screening exercise was conducted in line with established procedures and guidelines.

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Rivers State had four aspirants disqualified, all of whom were reportedly allies of the state governor, Sim Fubara, including Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara, Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji Imombek D. Abirite, and Hon. Boma Goodhead.

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The affected aspirants were from six states, including Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kogi, and Rivers, with Ondo and Rivers states accounting for the bulk of the disqualifications, and seven aspirants from Ondo State being barred from the primary.

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The disqualified aspirants from Ondo State included Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen, Olusegun Victor Ategbole, Seun Oluwashina Ajongbolo, Rt. Hon. Arowole Ayodeji Samuel, Morufu Tosin Ibrahim, Oseni Oyeniyi, and Olaleye John Adedipe.

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The remaining three disqualifications were from Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Kogi states, with Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello being barred from the Darazo/Ganjuwa race in Bauchi, Hon. Idu Igariwe being disqualified from the Afikpo-Edda Federal Constituency contest in Ebonyi, and Sanni Salau Ogembe being cleared out of the Okene/Ogori/Magongo primary in Kogi State.

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The primary for Abuja South Federal Constituency was stalled due to a dispute over the adoption of a consensus candidate, leaving thousands of party members stranded, with voters who arrived as early as 8am waiting all day without seeing electoral officials.

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Frontline aspirant and outgoing Gwagwalada Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri, blamed recent defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for pushing consensus to hijack the process, insisting on a free and fair primary.

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In Niger State, a five-term member of the House of Representatives, Abdullahi Idris Garba, emerged as the APC consensus candidate for Kontagora/Wushishi/Mariga/Mashegu Federal Constituency, following the withdrawal of fellow aspirant, Mohammed Rabi'u Daja.

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Former Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, also emerged as the consensus candidate for Mokwa/Edati/Lavun Federal Constituency, while Saeed Musa Abdullahi was returned unopposed as APC consensus candidate for Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency.

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In Kwara State, the primaries recorded sweeping victories for leading aspirants, with former Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Dr. Rafiu Ajakaye, dominating the polls in Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency, and former Works Commissioner, Abdulquawiy Olododo, emerging as the frontrunner in Ilorin East/South.

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Ajakaye polled 1,551 votes to incumbent Ismail Tijani's zero in Ipee, 707 in Erin-Ile South, and 300 to 1 in Ile-Ire Ward, while Olododo scored 2,012 votes in Magaji Are II against Aluko's 312, and 5,122 to 550 in Akanbi V.

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The House of Representatives primaries in South-West states were marred by protests, violence, disqualifications, and logistical hiccups, with Oyo State witnessing protests over alleged imposition and widespread irregularities.

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In Oyo State, aggrieved members stormed the party's Oke-Ado Secretariat in Ibadan, protesting alleged imposition of candidates and widespread irregularities, with spokesman Alhaji Adebayo Akinola describing the exercise as a "hijack of the democratic process".

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In Ekiti State, pockets of violence disrupted the primaries in parts of Ado-Ekiti, despite heavy security presence, with suspected thugs invading the venue at Ward 10, Fajuyi Pavilion, and forcing the exercise to be declared inconclusive.

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In Ondo State, confusion reigned after the APC national secretariat disqualified seven aspirants reportedly backed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa hours to the primaries, triggering tension across the state and parallel primaries in some constituencies.

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In Osun State, party members turned out in large numbers across wards, though delays were recorded in the arrival of electoral officials, with the primaries beginning around noon in parts of the state and witnessing orderly conduct in areas where officials arrived on time.

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In Lagos, the primaries were marked by a mix of consensus victories, high-profile contests, last-minute withdrawals, and pockets of crisis across constituencies, with Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, emerging unopposed as the party's candidate in Agege Federal Constituency.

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Obasa described the exercise as peaceful and reflective of internal democracy, but the situation was less smooth in Lagos Mainland, where the primary was disrupted by alleged violence and intimidation in areas including Apapa Road, Makoko, Iwaya, and Adekunle.

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In Somolu, the contest took a dramatic turn as one of the frontline aspirants, Abdul-Hammed Salawu, withdrew from the race hours to the primary, saying his decision was in the interest of party unity and stability.

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Across Lagos State, several constituencies witnessed intense competition, with Oshodi-Isolo recording the highest number of aspirants, about 16 contenders, while Lagos Mainland had seven aspirants battling for the ticket, with current lawmaker James Faleke winning a return ticket.

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In Ogun State, the House of Representatives primaries were held across the state's 234 wards, with party officials describing the exercise as peaceful and orderly, and among the winners were incumbent member for Imeko-Afon/Yewa North, Mr Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, and Mr Olumide Osoba, son of former governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

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Isiaka secured the ticket for a second term, while Osoba emerged unopposed to clinch the party's ticket for a fourth term to represent Obafemi Owode/Abeokuta North/Odeda Federal Constituency, with other winners including Ibori's daughter, and Faleke.