More Than 120 National Assembly Defectors Shut Out as Petitions Flood APC Appeal Committee Amid Allegations of Manipulation, Broken Promises and Abuse of Consensus Process
By Baron Eloagu / June 1, 2026
ABUJA, NIGERIA – In Nigeria’s political history, “cross-carpeting” (defecting from one party to another) is a common strategy used by politicians to secure tickets or align with the ruling party, though it frequently backfires.
The aftermath of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections has triggered a wave of protests, petitions, and political recriminations, as dozens of defectors from opposition parties who joined the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections found themselves denied tickets and excluded from the party’s electoral calculations.
What was expected to be a smooth integration of political heavyweights from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other opposition platforms has instead evolved into a major internal crisis, exposing deep divisions within the APC and raising questions about the transparency of its nomination process.
With petitions now piling before the APC National Assembly Primary Election Appeal Committee, aggrieved aspirants are alleging betrayal, manipulation, abuse of consensus arrangements, and violations of both the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
Defection Wave Meets Political Reality
In the months leading to the APC primaries, the ruling party witnessed one of the largest waves of defections in Nigeria’s democratic history.
More than 120 members of the National Assembly reportedly crossed over from opposition parties to the APC, citing political realignments, ideological considerations, and the growing influence of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Many of the defectors appeared confident that their political futures were secured within the APC.
However, the outcome of the primaries told a different story.
A significant number of those who abandoned their former parties were either defeated at the polls, denied tickets through consensus arrangements, or disqualified from participating altogether.
Political observers now view the development as evidence that APC’s established power blocs may have resisted attempts by newcomers to disrupt existing structures.
High-Profile Casualties of the APC Primaries
The most prominent Nigerian politicians who defected from opposition platforms but lost out in the APC 2026 primary elections include:
1. Hon. Nicholas Mutu
- Defected From: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) \APC
The long-serving lawmaker dumped the PDP for the APC in early 2026. He heavily contested the APC primary ticket to return to the National Assembly for the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency (Delta State) but was defeated. [1, 2, 3]
2. Senator Ned Nwoko
- Defected From: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) \ APC
After jumping ship from the PDP to the ruling APC, he contested to retain his legislative seat in the highly competitive Delta North Senatorial District APC primary. He lost the ticket to former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
3. Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) [1]
- Defected From: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) \ APC
The 2023 PDP Lagos State governorship candidate officially defected back to the APC ahead of the political cycle. Seeking the Lagos State Governorship primary ticket for the 2027 race, his ambitions were cut short when he was forced to withdraw before the ballots were cast, clearing the path for Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat to win.
4. Senator Ipalibo Harry-Banigo
- Defected From: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) \APC
The former Rivers State Deputy Governor and sitting Rivers West Senator defected to the APC amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. Her attempt to secure a return ticket under the APC banner failed as she was reportedly disqualified by the party’s screening committee prior to the primary.
5. Senator Neda Imasuen
- Defected From: Labour Party (LP) \ APC
Having originally won his seat under the Labour Party, he defected to the APC to align with the ruling majority. He contested the 2026 APC primary for the Edo South Senatorial District but lost the ticket to Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama. [1, 2, 3]
6. Hon. Ngozi Lawrence Okolie
- Defected From: Labour Party (LP) /APC
He was one of the prominent House of Representatives members who abandoned the Labour Party for the APC. He contested the APC primary ticket for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency (Delta State) but suffered a defeat
And several others who joined the APC from opposition parties were reportedly disqualified before the primaries commenced.
Rivers Political Drama: Fubara’s Withdrawal Raises Questions
One of the most politically sensitive developments emerged in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently aligned with the APC, withdrew from the governorship race shortly before the primary election.
Although Fubara purchased the APC governorship nomination form reportedly worth ₦50 million and successfully underwent screening, he later announced his withdrawal, citing peace, unity, and stability in Rivers State.
However, the governor’s explanation was quickly challenged by his estranged political mentor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to Wike, an earlier political understanding had already ruled out any second-term ambition by Fubara as part of efforts to resolve the prolonged Rivers political crisis.
The contrasting narratives have fueled speculation that powerful political forces may have shaped the outcome before the primaries even commenced.
Consensus or Exclusion? Questions Over APC Primary Methods
At the centre of the controversy are allegations surrounding the use of consensus and direct primary elections.
The Electoral Act 2026 permits political parties to adopt consensus candidates only after securing the written consent of all cleared aspirants.
Where such consent is unavailable, parties are required to revert to direct primaries.
Several defeated aspirants now claim this provision was ignored.
Critics allege that party stakeholders deployed consensus arrangements strategically to eliminate certain aspirants while favouring preferred candidates.
Others claim direct primaries were manipulated through voter suppression, irregular collation processes, and predetermined outcomes.
The accusations have reignited national debates over internal party democracy and the credibility of primary elections in Nigeria.
Ned Nwoko Alleges Broken Promises
Perhaps the strongest allegations have come from Senator Ned Nwoko.
The Delta North lawmaker claimed he was persuaded to leave the PDP after receiving assurances that he would be guaranteed an automatic APC ticket.
Speaking publicly after his defeat, Nwoko alleged that senior APC leaders assured him that party structures in Delta State would be reconfigured to accommodate defectors.
According to him, discussions included power-sharing arrangements and restructuring of the party’s executive hierarchy.
The senator suggested that those assurances collapsed following the departure of former APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
Nwoko argued that he would never have abandoned his former political platform without receiving guarantees about his political future.
The senator has since rejected the primary election results, alleging manipulation, vote-buying, intimidation, and fabrication of figures.
He maintains that evidence in his possession contradicts the official results announced by the party.
Defeated Aspirants Reject Results
The controversy extends beyond Delta State.
In Cross River State, defeated lawmakers accused the APC leadership of conducting what they described as a “charade” rather than a democratic contest.
Several aspirants alleged that sitting lawmakers were deliberately targeted and denied equal opportunities during the exercise.
Similarly, Edo lawmaker Hon. Esosa Iyawe challenged the outcome of the Oredo Federal Constituency primary election.
He alleged widespread irregularities, violence, voter intimidation, and inconsistencies in result collation.
According to Iyawe, supporters in several wards were allegedly prevented from participating freely in the exercise.
He further claimed that consensus arrangements were imposed in ten of the constituency’s twelve wards without meeting legal requirements.
Appeal Committee Faces Mountain of Petitions
The APC National Assembly Primary Election Appeal Committee is now confronted with a growing number of petitions from aggrieved aspirants seeking redress.
Among those who have formally challenged the primaries is former PDP lawmaker Hon. Nicholas Ossai, who contested for the APC ticket in Delta State.
Ossai described the exercise as unconstitutional and accused party officials of disenfranchising legitimate party members.
Political observers believe the decisions of the Appeal Committee could significantly influence party unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
The committee’s findings may also determine whether dissatisfied aspirants remain within the APC or seek alternative political platforms.
A Test of APC’s Internal Democracy
Beyond individual grievances, the controversy surrounding the APC primaries highlights broader questions about political integration and internal democracy.
While defections have strengthened the ruling party numerically, the primaries suggest that acceptance into the APC does not necessarily translate into political accommodation.
Analysts argue that the outcome demonstrates the enduring influence of entrenched party structures and local political interests.
For many defectors, the experience may serve as a lesson that political migration alone does not guarantee electoral success.
As petitions continue to pour into the APC National Assembly Primary Election Appeal Committee, the ruling party faces one of its biggest post-primary challenges.
What began as a strategic influx of opposition politicians has evolved into a fierce battle over trust, political promises, and democratic legitimacy.
Whether the Appeal Committee can resolve the growing discontent without triggering further defections or legal battles remains uncertain.
What is clear, however, is that the APC primaries have left many former opposition lawmakers questioning whether their political gamble was worth the risk.
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