About 98 serving members of the House of Representatives will not return to the Green Chamber in 2027 after failing to secure tickets to contest their seats or opting to seek higher elective offices.
A state-by-state analysis by The Nation showed that about 262 serving members secured return tickets, either on the platforms of their current parties or after defecting to other political parties.
Among those who will not return are several principal officers, 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 secured return tickets among the House principal officers. Soro and Dasuki opted not to seek re-election and did not participate in the primaries.
Kano State recorded the highest number of serving members who secured return tickets, with 23 of its 24 members set to return. Lagos followed with 15 of 24 members, while Kaduna recorded 15 returnees out of its 16 serving members.
The report also indicated that most members who defected from their former parties, particularly in Kano and Rivers states, secured return tickets on the platforms of their new parties.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sponsoring about 21 female candidates for House of Representatives seats and has also listed six senatorial candidates, according to the report.
The PDP 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; Okoli Ogochukwu Evangeline for Aguata; Okafor Jenifer for Oyi/Ayamelum; Onuora Helen Uju for Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha; Chita Chiamaka Modester for Idemili North/Idemili South, all in Anambra; and Garba Maryam Bagel for Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi.
The list also includes 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; Iheme Ndidi Olachi Ulumna for Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West; Isiyaku Suwaiba for Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri in Kebbi; and Omoshola Gbemisola Holymary for Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos.
Others are 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.
The seven names listed in the report as PDP senatorial candidates are Oliata Chinenye Edith for Anambra North; Ortom Eunice Edith for Benue North; Nwachi Maria Ude for Ebonyi South; Fatuyi Olajuyigbe Monica Adesola for Ekiti Central; Ayenioye Olabisi for Ekiti South; Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan for Kogi Central; and Iyabo Obasanjo for Ogun Central.
The report, however, describes the number of PDP senatorial candidates as six, while listing seven names. To avoid reproducing that apparent inconsistency as an established fact, this report states that seven names were listed, while preserving the source’s original information.
Other parties presenting candidates for the House of Representatives 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 contesting the election 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 further noted that one visually impaired candidate and one candidate with albinism are also contesting seats in the House of Representatives.
