By Ayo Ayodele
About 98 serving members of the House of Representatives are set to leave the Green Chamber after failing to secure their parties’ tickets for the 2027 elections or choosing to pursue other elective positions.
A state-by-state analysis of the primaries showed that about 262 serving lawmakers secured tickets to return to the House, either under their current political parties or after defecting to other parties.
Among those who failed to secure return tickets are several principal officers of the House, including House Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo); Deputy Chief Whip Isiaka Ayokunle Isiaka (APC, Ogun); Minority Leader Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa); Deputy Minority Whip Manu Soro (PDP, Bauchi); Deputy Minority Leader Abdulsamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoto); and Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi (NDC, Anambra).
Only Chief Whip Usman Bello Kumo and Deputy House Leader Abdullahi Ali among the principal officers secured tickets to return to the House.
Soro and Dasuki reportedly opted not to seek re-election and did not participate in their respective primaries.
Kano State recorded the highest number of serving lawmakers securing return tickets, with 23 of its 24 representatives set to return.
Lagos followed with 15 returnees out of 24 serving members, while Kaduna recorded 15 returnees from its 16-member delegation.
The analysis also showed that several lawmakers who defected from their former political parties, particularly in Kano and Rivers states, secured tickets to contest under their new parties.
PDP fields female candidates
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fielding female candidates for seats in the National Assembly, including about 21 candidates for the House of Representatives and six for the Senate, according to the report.
The female House of Representatives candidates include Umoh Esther Robson for Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom; Okeke Chidinma Ngozi for Onitsha North/Onitsha South in Anambra; Okoli Ogochukwu Evangeline for Aguata; Okafor Jenifer for Oyi/Ayamelum; Onuora Helen Uju for Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha; and Chita Chiamaka Modester for Idemili North/Idemili South.
Others are Garba Maryam Bagel for Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi; Edom Peace Eyo for Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi in Cross River; Blessing Chinazam for Abakaliki/Izzi in Ebonyi; Jemitola Elizabeth for Akoko-Edo in Edo; Nwadike Peace Adanma for Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele in Imo; and Iheme Ndidi Olachi Ulumna for Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West.
The list also includes Isiyaku Suwaiba for Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri in Kebbi; Omoshola Gbemisola Holymary for Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos; Akinsanya Idowu Bimpe for Shomolu in Lagos; Aliyu Biriskillia Beauty for Akwanga/Nassarawa Eggon/Wamba in Nasarawa; Musa Hauwa for Bosso/Paikoro in Niger; Okuboyejo Rasheedat Temitayo for Ado-Odo/Ota in Ogun; Alao Elizabeth Folashade for Ibarapa East/Ido in Oyo; and Ewo Prescilia Richard for Abua/Odual/Ahoada East in Rivers.
For the Senate, the PDP’s female candidates include Oliata Chinenye Edith (Anambra North), Ortom Eunice Edith (Benue North), Nwachi Maria Ude (Ebonyi South), Fatuyi Olajuyigbe Monica Adesola (Ekiti Central), Ayenioye Olabisi (Ekiti South), Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) and Iyabo Obasanjo (Ogun Central).
Other political parties are also fielding candidates for the National Assembly elections. For the House of Representatives, the reported figures include NNPP (8), ADP (30), NRM (20), PRP (1), ZLP (17), SDP (34), APP (15), AA (10), Accord (14), DLA (12), LP (20), APGA (5), APM (40), NDP (12), AAC (9), BP (1) and YPP (4).
For the Senate, the parties listed as fielding candidates include ZLP (8), APP (5), ADP (11), AAC (4), DLA (6), Accord (11), APGA (3), NNPP (4), NRM (9), APM (12), LP (8), YPP (6), NDP (3), SDP (7), AA (6) and YP (1).
The report also noted that one visually impaired candidate and another candidate with albinism are contesting for seats in the House of Representatives.