The Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Affiniki Dauda, has lost her bid to secure the All Progressives Congress ticket to return to the state Assembly.
Mrs Dauda, who is currently the only female member of the Assembly, was defeated during the party’s primary election for the Gurara constituency seat by a new entrant in the race.
Her defeat was among several major outcomes recorded during the APC primaries, which also saw 15 other serving lawmakers fail to secure tickets to contest for another term under the party’s platform.
Despite the wave of defeats recorded by many incumbents, the Speaker of the House, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, emerged unopposed as the APC candidate for the Magama constituency seat.
The outcome of the exercise has also generated attention because all 27 candidates produced by the APC for the State House of Assembly elections are male. In addition, none of the party’s candidates for the Assembly seats is a Christian.
Observers have noted the significance of Mrs Dauda’s loss, especially as she had, on Thursday, seconded the motion moved by Sani Musa seeking the return of Governor Muhammed Umaru Bago as the party’s consensus candidate for a second term in office.
Several candidates who emerged victorious during the primaries were announced by the party following the conclusion of the exercise.
Among those who secured the APC tickets are Abdulmalik Bala Yakubu for Katcha constituency, Abubakar Suleiman Gomna for Bosso, Ahmed Mohammed for Edati, Alhassan Isah for Mashegu, and Bello Bako for Rijau.
Others include Murtala Adamu Badaru for Suleja, Ndagi Zakari for Mokwa, Nasir Umar for Paikoro, Yahaya Abubakar Ahmadu for Gbako, Zubair Ismaila for Rafi, and Dogari Daje for Munya constituency.
The chairman of the primary election committee, Danlami Mohammed Abubakar, officially announced the results at the party secretariat on Thursday evening.
The APC primaries in Niger State are expected to shape the political landscape ahead of the next Assembly election, particularly with the emergence of new candidates and the exit of several incumbent lawmakers.
