The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, was returned unopposed as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Zaria Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, in a primary exercise that formed part of the APC’s nationwide House of Representatives primaries conducted across the 360 federal constituencies of the country amid a mixed bag of unopposed returns, decisive contests, surprise upsets, allegations of imposition, violence, protests and hijacked election materials.
The APC had earlier disqualified 14 aspirants from contesting the primaries across Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kogi and Rivers states, with the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, disclosing the disqualifications in a statement issued on Saturday and saying the aspirants failed to scale the screening exercise conducted by the party’s screening committees.
Speaker Abbas Returned Unopposed In Zaria
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, was returned unopposed through an affirmation by registered members of the APC in the 13 electoral wards of Zaria Federal Constituency. The exercise, which took place at the 13 electoral wards simultaneously, began at about 10 a.m. and witnessed a large turnout of APC members in a peaceful atmosphere.
At the Speaker’s Kwarbai B Ward, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, the APC returning officer for the ward, informed the gathering that, based on the document handed to him by the national leadership of the APC, there was only one aspirant who purchased a form and was cleared for the Zaria Federal Constituency. When he called for affirmation, all the cleared APC members for Kwarbai B affirmed Abbas Tajudeen as the party’s candidate, and the exercise followed a similar pattern at the remaining 12 electoral wards.
At the collation centre for the Zaria Federal Constituency, the APC Returning Officer for the Zaria Federal Constituency for the party’s primary elections into the House of Reps, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that a total of 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards affirmed Speaker Abbas as the party’s flagbearer.
He said: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and there is only one person who bought a form, screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. To fulfill all the requirements, we went to all the wards and conducted affirmation. INEC officials and party officials are here. The exercise was conducted peacefully.
“Thousands of party faithful gathered, but we only counted 1,376. I hereby announce Dr. Abbas Tajudeen as the APC flagbearer for Zaria Federal Constituency. I, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim, hereby certify that the information contained in this document is correct. Congratulations!”
In his goodwill message, the chairman of the APC House of Reps primary elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, said based on the outcome of the primary, Speaker Abbas is loved by his people, describing him as a leader with listening ears and expressing optimism that he would easily win at the general elections.
The exercise was monitored and observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Speaker Abbas thanked APC members in Zaria Federal Constituency for affirming him as the party’s candidate, assuring them of better days as their representative and calling on them to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; Governor Uba Sani and all the candidates of APC during the 2027 general elections. “My best days as your representative are ahead,” Abbas said.
Other Kaduna Winners
The APC on Saturday also declared winners of its House of Representatives primaries across Kaduna State, with party officials saying the exercise followed the party’s constitution and guidelines. Yakubu Hosseini, chairman of the APC primary election committee, announced results at the party secretariat in Kaduna.
Other declared winners included Amos Gwamna Magaji for Zango Kataf/Jaba (consensus, 1,930 votes); Samaila Abdul Suleiman for Kaduna North (3,049 votes, with Abdulaziz Abubakar Kaka scoring 65 and Abubakar Mahmoud 96); Benjamin Gugong for Kaura (1,085 votes, defeating Donatus Mathieu with 255 votes); Mukhtar Zakari Chawai as consensus candidate for Kauru (1,750 votes); Felix Joseph Bagudu for Chikun/Kajuru (1,580 votes); Daniel Amos for Jema’a/Sanga; Gabriel Saleh for Kagarko/Kachia; Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, son of elder statesman Ango Abdullahi, for Sabon Gari (920 votes); Muhammad Jallo for Igabi (1,171 votes); and Bashir Suleiman Zuntu for Ikara/Kubau (1,787 votes).
Hosseini said each declared candidate “satisfied the requirements of the APC Constitution and Guidelines” before being returned as winners. Kaduna State APC chairman Atiku Sankey accepted the results and declared the exercise concluded.
Deputy Speaker Kalu Returned Unopposed In Bende
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, was on Saturday returned as the candidate of the APC for Bende Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections unopposed.
Kalu was returned through a pronouncement by the APC registered members in the 13 electoral wards of Bende Federal Constituency, namely Bende, Itumbuzo, Uzuakoli, Umuhu, Ozuitem, Umeimenyi Nkpa, Igbere A, Igbere B, Item A, Item B, Item C, Alayi and Ugwueke Ezeukwu.
Party stakeholders, ward executives, and delegates across the constituency commended Kalu’s leadership, legislative performance, and commitment to grassroots development, describing his unopposed emergence as a reflection of the confidence reposed in him by members of the APC and constituents alike.
Speaking after the affirmation of his candidacy, Kalu expressed gratitude to party faithful, community leaders, youths, women groups and his constituents for their continued support and trust, reiterating his commitment to delivering more democratic dividends, promoting inclusive governance, and advancing policies that would improve the welfare and economic opportunities of the people of Bende.
Obasa Wins Agege Ticket Unopposed
In Lagos State, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, won the APC Agege Federal House of Representatives primary election unopposed.
Following his victorious outing, Obasa thanked party faithful and members for their full support while giving remarks after the election at Ward E Oyewole Primary School, Agege: “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.”
Yusuf Buhari Wins Katsina Primary
In Katsina State, Yusuf Buhari, son of former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the APC primary for Sandamu/Daura/Mai’adua Federal Constituency with a landslide victory, polling 5,849 votes to defeat his closest rival, Auwal Daura, who secured 21 votes.
Party supporters in the area described the outcome as a reflection of the Buhari family’s enduring influence within the constituency and the APC structure in Katsina State.
Akin Rotimi Wins In Ekiti
The spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, emerged winner of the APC primary election for the Ekiti North I (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency of Ekiti State, winning in 22 of 24 wards in the constituency.
He defeated eight other aspirants including former member of the House in the 7th Assembly, Bimbo Daramola, Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle, Gbenga Joseph, Prince Ayorinde Ejioye, Engr. Ayo Omotosho, Mrs. Funke Owoseni, Kayode Omoboya, and Barr. Yemi Ayodele Ayeni. Three of the aspirants — Owoseni, Omoboya and Ayeni — reportedly stepped down from the race before the exercise began.
Rotimi said the outcome of the primary election underscores the evolving political dynamics in the constituency and consolidates his electoral strength and grassroots appeal in Ekiti North I, adding that in the 10th Assembly, he built a profile around legislative visibility, structured communication of parliamentary activities, and active engagement in national discourse. He commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise, which he said was competitive.
Onyejeocha Returns To Reps Ticket Unopposed In Abia
Former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emerged as the APC candidate for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onyejeocha, who represented the constituency for 16 years before joining President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in 2023, secured the party’s ticket unopposed, polling over 9,000 votes during the primary exercise.
Her journey back to the ballot began in April 2026, when she resigned her position as Minister of State for Labour and Employment following President Bola Tinubu’s directive requiring all political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 to step down from their positions. President Tinubu personally commended her tenure at the Labour Ministry, noting that it brought “stability and administrative calm” to his administration.
The Umunneochi Traditional Rulers Council, under the chairmanship of HRH Franklin Ohanaeze, has endorsed Onyejeocha to return to the House of Representatives. During a grand reception held in her honour at Peace Comprehensive Secondary School, Amuda Isuochi, the Council conferred the title “Anyanwu Na Enye Ihie 1” of Umunneochi on her, and also conferred the title “Ike Oha Umunneochi” on President Tinubu.
Onyejeocha pledged to design a “comprehensive developmental template that will translate to tangible grassroots development, including compulsory skill acquisition for women and youths, rural infrastructure, economic empowerment, quality education, and accessible healthcare for the people of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi federal constituency.”
