The outcome of the APC House of Representatives primaries in Nasarawa State has exposed growing cracks within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections, with some of the state’s most influential political figures losing their bids in dramatic fashion.

At the centre of the political shake-up is the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, whose defeat in the Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency primary is already being viewed as one of the biggest surprises of the APC’s nationwide primaries.

The All Progressives Congress conducted its House of Representatives primaries across Nasarawa State on Saturday, May 16, with results officially declared in Lafia by the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Elections Committee, Musa Shuaibu Guri.

According to the official figures announced by the committee, Daniel Ogah Ogazi defeated Speaker Danladi Jatau by a wide margin in the race for the Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency ticket.

Ogazi secured 13,083 votes, while Jatau polled 5,873 votes. Another aspirant, Abdulaziz Danladi, received 1,067 votes.

Declaring the result, Guri said:
“Daniel Ogah Ogazi, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner of the primary election.”

The result marked a major political setback for Jatau, who had entered the race as one of the most recognisable figures in Nasarawa politics.

However, a closer look at the outcome suggests the defeat was not merely about numbers. It reflected deeper changes within the APC’s internal structure in Nasarawa, where grassroots mobilisation increasingly appears to be outweighing political office and elite influence.

Before the primaries, Jatau had aggressively campaigned across Keffi, Karu and Kokona local government areas, holding rallies, engaging party delegates and presenting himself as an experienced lawmaker capable of representing the constituency at the National Assembly.

His political visibility had also risen significantly in recent months after emerging Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC Speakers Conference.

Yet despite that momentum, the Speaker lost by more than 7,000 votes — a margin analysts say signals dissatisfaction among sections of the party base.

Beyond the official announcement, the result has intensified conversations within Nasarawa APC over loyalty networks, zoning calculations and the growing influence of emerging political blocs ahead of 2027.

Several party insiders believe the primaries exposed a silent restructuring already taking place within the state chapter of the APC.

The political upsets were not limited to Jatau.

Two serving members of the House of Representatives also lost their return tickets during the primaries.

Mohammed Abdulmumini Ari, representing Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, lost to Mohammed Al-Bashir, who secured a dominant 31,796 votes against Ari’s 9,039 votes.

In Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency, Tony Bala Shammah defeated incumbent lawmaker Jeremiah Umaru with 38,333 votes, while Umaru managed 4,061 votes.

The committee also confirmed that Mohammed Al-Makura emerged as the APC candidate for Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency through a consensus arrangement after rival aspirant Isaac Kigbu withdrew from the contest before voting began.

Results for Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency were still being collated as of the official announcement.

Across Nigeria, the APC primaries have triggered tensions in several states including Rivers, Lagos, Benue, Ogun, Ekiti and Plateau, where lawmakers rejected outcomes, alleged imposition and threatened legal action.

Yet the Nasarawa contest stands out because of the calibre of political figures affected and the clarity of the voting outcomes.

Political analysts say the results may indicate that the APC’s internal power dynamics are shifting away from automatic advantages traditionally enjoyed by officeholders.

That trend could significantly reshape calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in states where governors, lawmakers and party blocs are already battling for control of local political structures.

For Nasarawa specifically, the primaries have also raised fresh questions about whether the APC can maintain unity after such high-profile defeats.

Although committee chairman Musa Shuaibu Guri appealed for reconciliation, urging aspirants to work together for the party’s success, managing the fallout may prove difficult in constituencies where supporters feel politically displaced.

Nasarawa has witnessed intense intra-party rivalries in previous election cycles, especially during battles over zoning arrangements, governorship succession and National Assembly tickets.

But unlike previous primaries where elite consensus often shaped outcomes quietly, the 2026 APC primaries reflected a more direct confrontation between established political figures and rising grassroots networks.

That shift could become even more pronounced as political alignments begin to solidify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The real challenge now is whether the APC leadership in Nasarawa can prevent internal grievances from turning into defections, litigation or parallel political structures before campaign season intensifies.

What authorities and party leaders do next may determine whether the APC emerges stronger from the primaries — or enters 2027 carrying deeper internal divisions than expected.