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 their current parties’ platform or after defecting to other parties. Newspapers
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 Nation also gathered that most members who defected from their former parties, particularly in Kano and Rivers states, secured return tickets on their new parties’ platforms. Newspapers
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sponsoring about 21 female candidates for House of Representatives seats and six candidates for senatorial seats across the country.
Meanwhile, female candidates contesting the elections on the PDP platform are Umoh Esther Robson (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Estaern Obolo- Akwa Ibom), Okeke Chidinma Ngozi (Onitsha North/Onitsha South-Anambra), Okoli Ogochukwu Evangeline (Aguata), Okafor Jenifer (Oyi/Ayaemulum), Onuora Helen Uju (Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha-Anambra), Chita Chiamaka Modester (Idemili North/Idemili South-Anambra), and Garba Maryam Bagel (Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa-Bauchi).
The list also includes Edom Peace Eyo (Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi-Cross River), Blessing Chinazam (Abakaliki/Izzi-Ebonyi), Jemitola Elizabeth (Akoko-Edo-Edo), Nwadike Peace Adanma (Isu/Njaba, Nkwerre/Nwangele-Imo), Iheme Ndidi Olachi Ulumna (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West-Imo), Isiyaku Suwaiba (Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri-Kebbi), and Omoshola, Gbemisola Holymary (Ibeju Lekki-Lagos).
Also on the list of female candidates being sponsored by the PDP for the House of Representatives are Akinsanya Idowu Bimpe (Shomolu-Lagos), Aliyu Biriskillia Beauty (Akwanga/Nassarawa Egggon/Wamba-Nasarawa), Musa Hauwa (Bosso/Paikoro-Niger), Okuboyejo Rasheedat Temitayo (Ado-Odo/Otta-Ogun), Alao Elizabeth Folashade (Ibarapa East/Ido-Oyo), and Ewo Prescilia Richard (Abua/Odual/Ahaoda East-Rivers).
The Senatorial candidates are 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 parties presenting candidates for the House of Representatives elections 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).
In the Senate, the parties contesting the election are 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).
One visually impaired candidate and one candidate with albinism are also contesting the election to the House of Representatives.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
