Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark, has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to seek re-election into the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Also emerging victorious in the party’s primary election was Regina Akume, wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who retained the APC ticket for the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency in Benue State.

The APC conducted direct primary elections on Saturday across the 11 federal constituencies in the state’s 23 local government areas.

The exercise, however, produced major political upsets as six serving lawmakers lost their bids to return to the House of Representatives.

Those defeated in the primaries include Dickson Tarkghir of Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency; Sesoo Gboko; Asema Achado; Ugbor Terseer; Sekav Iortyom; and David Ogewu.

Political observers within the party linked the outcome to the growing influence of Governor Hyacinth Alia, as many of the victorious candidates were believed to enjoy the governor’s backing, while several of the defeated lawmakers were seen as loyalists of the SGF.

Apart from Onuh and Regina Akume, other lawmakers who secured return tickets include Ojema Ojotu and Solomon Wombo.

In Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Anthony Agom emerged winner following the defection of the incumbent lawmaker, Philip Agbese, from the APC to the Labour Party before the primaries.

For Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Terfa Ikya defeated incumbent Dickson Tarkghir, while Terhemba Nongo unseated Asema Achado in Gwer East/Gwer West.

Similarly, Kohol Iornem defeated incumbent Ugbor Terseer, while Livinus Tsar overcame serving lawmaker Sesoo Gboko.

In Buruku Federal Constituency, Gideon Inyom defeated incumbent Sekav Iortyom, although the exercise was reportedly disrupted by the snatching of results in one ward. Party officials said the situation was later brought under control and a suspect was arrested, while another ward reportedly experienced delays after a presiding officer allegedly failed to return election results.

At Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, former Commissioner for Information Peter Egbodo defeated incumbent David Ogewu to clinch the APC ticket.

Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Benue State, Sabiu Saidu Mahuta, declared the highest-polling aspirants winners of the exercise and urged contestants to accept the outcome in good faith, insisting that the process should not create division within the party.