The All Progressives Congress (APC) has removed former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye, and 24 others from its final National Assembly candidates’ list for the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) replaced five senatorial aspirants and 19 House of Representatives candidates after reviewing appeals from its primary elections.
The affected constituencies cover nine states, including Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi. The APC forwarded the revised list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The document by the nation, showed that APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru signed the letter transmitting the updated candidates’ list.
Following the appeal process, APC said the changes followed recommendations from its Primary Election Appeal Committee. It party stated that the NWC reviewed and approved the adjustments as its final decision on the affected constituencies.
As a result, the party said the substitutions followed the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and INEC guidelines.
The changes include Benue North East Senatorial District, where Gabriel Suswam was replaced by Emmanuel Memga Udende, and Ondo North Senatorial Zone, where Gbenga Elegbeleye was replaced by Olajide Ipinsagbe.
Several House of Representatives candidates also changed across different states. In Benue, Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa in Makurdi/Human Federal Constituency, while Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor in Vandekiya/Konshsha Federal Constituency.
In Taraba, Peter Abel Diah replaced Sanusi Mohammed Galadima in Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency. In Niger State, Abubakar Lado Abdullahi replaced Adamu Tanko in Seleja/Tafa/Gurara Federal Constituency.
The APC also announced replacements in Kwara, Ondo, Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi. In Kwara, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi in Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency.
Also, Ondo recorded several changes, including Donald Ojogo replacing Akingboye Leke in Ilaje/Ese-Ode Federal Constituency and Festus Olarewaju replacing Rasaq Obe in Idanre Federal Constituency.
In Kaduna, Abdulazeez Kaka replaced Samaila Abdu Suleiman in Kaduna North Federal Constituency, while Samuel Okezie replaced Chris Nkwonta in Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Abia State.
External Sources
The Nation report on APC candidate changes
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Electoral Act 2022 details
