Six serving members of the House of Representatives in Benue State have lost their bids to return to the National Assembly after failing to secure tickets in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.

The lawmakers are widely regarded as allies of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, while most of the successful candidates are believed to be aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Results announced on Sunday in Makurdi by the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee showed that only four of the party’s 11 House of Representatives members retained their tickets. Another lawmaker had earlier defected to the Labour Party ahead of the primaries.

Among those who lost were Austin Achado of Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, David Ogewu of Oju/Obi, Terseer Ugbor of Kwande/Ushongo, Sekav Iyortyom of Buruku, and Dickson Tarkighir of Makurdi/Guma.

The lawmakers were defeated by challengers who recorded wide margins in several constituencies.

Committee chairman Sabiu Mahuta said Achado lost to David Nongo after polling 729 votes against Nongo’s 17,429 votes. He added that voting in Gbemacha Ward was cancelled over overvoting, while elections in two wards were disrupted after materials were snatched.

In Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, Peter Ogbodo defeated incumbent lawmaker David Ogewu by 12,993 votes to 120.

Christopher Ikper won the Makurdi/Guma ticket with 37,844 votes, defeating Dickson Tarkighir, who secured 1,746 votes.

In Buruku Federal Constituency, Gideon Inyom polled 10,470 votes to unseat incumbent Sekav Iyortyom, who scored 1,396 votes.

The incumbents who retained their tickets are Regina Akume of Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency, Solomon Wombo of Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo, Ojotu Ojema of Apa/Agatu, and Blessing Onuh of Otukpo/Ohimini.

Regina Akume, wife of the SGF, secured 19,638 votes to keep her ticket, while Blessing Onuh polled 17,451 votes to emerge winner in Otukpo/Ohimini.

Mahuta said the winners satisfied both the electoral requirements and APC guidelines governing the conduct of the primaries.

He explained that although voting was conducted on Saturday, delays caused by distance and security concerns prevented some returning officers from arriving in Makurdi on time for the collation of results.

According to him, the committee instructed affected officials to stay in secure locations overnight and return on Sunday for the final announcement.