Mudashiru Obasa and Nasir Buhari both secured the All Progressives Congress nomination for the House of Representatives in Wednesday's primary elections, signalling the party's consolidation of power ahead of the 2025 general election.
Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, won the ticket for Lagos Island Federal Constituency. His victory comes as the APC continues to dominate electoral contests in its stronghold of Lagos, where the party has held sway for nearly two decades.
Nasir Buhari, son of former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the APC ticket for Daura Federal Constituency in Katsina State. The younger Buhari's nomination adds another member of the presidential family to the party's list of candidates for the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
In Rivers State, the APC declared the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly as the winner of the party's primary for his constituency. Party officials said this outcome reflected the preferences of the delegates and aligned with the party's internal processes, though specifics about potential opposition or the margin of victory were not immediately clear.
Across the country, APC loyalists dominated the results of Wednesday's primary elections, with party officials describing the outcomes as a clear endorsement of the administration's favoured candidates. The pattern suggests the ruling party moved to ensure that candidates aligned with the central leadership and state governors secured the party's nomination in competitive races.
These primary elections represent a critical stage in Nigeria's electoral calendar, as nominated candidates from both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party will face off in the general election next year. The results from Wednesday show the APC's organisational strength in key regions, particularly in the southwest and northwest.
Obasa has served as Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly since 2015 and emerged as one of the most prominent voices in state politics. His nomination to contest for the House of Representatives marks a potential shift in his political trajectory, moving from state to federal legislature.
The APC is expected to announce final lists of all its nominated candidates across all electoral positions in coming days. Party leaders have said they will conduct campaigns based on the administration's achievements and plans for continued development.
