The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has suffered a stunning political setback after losing the All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primary for Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State.
Ihonvbere, the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, was defeated by Hon. Ijegbai Andrew, a former Edo State Commissioner for Mining, in a keenly watched primary election that has now reshaped the political landscape in Owan.
The outcome has effectively ended Ihonvbere’s return bid to the National Assembly despite his influential position as House Majority Leader.
Party insiders attributed the development to the zoning arrangement within the Owan Federal Constituency, which reportedly worked against the continuation of Ihonvbere’s tenure in the Green Chamber.
Hon. Ijegbai Andrew’s victory is already being viewed by political observers as a major upset within the Edo APC, considering Ihonvbere’s national prominence and strong influence within the party hierarchy.
Further details obtained by this online newspaper revealed that supporters of Andrew erupted in jubilation shortly after the results were announced, describing the victory as a triumph of political understanding and grassroots alignment.
The APC primary outcome is expected to trigger fresh political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections in Edo State.
