The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Julius Ihonvbere, has lost his bid to return to the National Assembly after suffering defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Edo State, marking one of the biggest casualties of the party’s ongoing nomination process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The result of the contest, held at the APC state secretariat, confirmed that former Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai, emerged winner of the Owan Federal Constituency ticket after polling 3,695 votes. Ihonvbere, who is currently serving as Majority Leader in the Green Chamber, scored 1,005 votes in the fiercely contested primary involving several aspirants.
Other contestants in the race included Abdul Oroh, who secured 1,740 votes; Folly Ogidegbe, who polled 505 votes; and Barrister Stewart, who garnered 642 votes, in a tightly watched internal election that reflected growing tensions within party structures at the state level.
Announcing the outcome, the APC Returning Officer, Kelvin Mohammed, declared Ijegbai the winner, stating that he had satisfied the requirement of majority votes and would now fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general election for the constituency.
The defeat of Ihonvbere underscores a broader pattern emerging across the country, where several incumbent lawmakers have lost their return tickets in APC primaries, signalling a wave of internal restructuring and elite displacement within the ruling party as it prepares for the next electoral cycle.
Political observers say the development reflects increasing influence of local party power blocs and shifting loyalty networks within the APC, where incumbency no longer guarantees automatic return to office.
Meanwhile, attention has also shifted to other outcomes within the party’s primaries, including the emergence of Benjamin Kalu, who successfully secured the APC ticket to contest in the next general election.
His return ticket is being interpreted by analysts as a consolidation of his political base within the party, even as speculation about broader political ambitions continues to circulate.
The APC primary outcomes across several states have continued to generate debate within political circles, with some analysts describing the process as a test of internal democracy, while others argue it reflects intense factional battles and strategic repositioning ahead of 2027.
As the primaries progress nationwide, more high-profile politicians are expected to either consolidate their positions or exit the stage, depending on shifting alliances, delegate influence, and internal party negotiations shaping Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.