By the end of last weekend’s primary election, it became clear that at least 50 current members of the 10th House of Representatives will not be in the 11th House.
Why ? At press time yesterday, no fewer than 48 All Progressives Congress, APC Reps have lost at the primaries held nationwide, over the weekend.
Two legislators in Bayelsa did not join the race because they are seeking higher political offices.
The figures are expected to be higher because APC is yet to release full results of the primaries and other opposition parties such as the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA among others are yet to hold their primaries.
However, House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas (Kano), and his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu(Abia), led legislators who won APC return tickets.
Leading lawmakers who lost re-election tickets of the APC include Nicholas Mutu(Bomadi/Patani, Delta State, who has been in the House since 1999; and Mike Etaba(Obubra/Etung, Cross River), missed fourth term ticket.
Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the Majority Leader of the House Representatives, is among the non-returning legislators.
Ihonvbere lost the APC ticket for Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State, in Saturday’s primaries. He polled 1,005 votes our of the 7,587 votes cast and came third in the exercise won by Andrew Ijegbia(3,695 votes). The other results are Abdul Oroh (1,740 votes), Barrister Scot(642 votes), and Honourable Folly (505 votes).
The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, lost his bid for a third term.
Results announced by the returning officer, Daspan Ishaya, showed that Dr. John Tongshinen recorded a total of 29,968 votes in the exercise while Gagdi had less than 6000 votes.
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