APC Drops 26 Aspirants, Replaces Suswam, Elegbeleye On Final INEC Candidates List

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has replaced 26 National Assembly aspirants, including former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye, in its final list of candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election.

The revised list, approved by the party's National Working Committee (NWC), affects seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies across Benue, Ondo, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.

The updated list was transmitted to INEC in a joint letter signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

According to the party, the substitutions followed recommendations made by its Primary Election Appeal Committee after reviewing petitions arising from the recently concluded primary elections.

"We write to formally forward the attached list of the party's candidates for the affected senatorial and House of Representatives constituencies arising from the report of the Primary Election Appeal Committee," the letter stated.

It added that the recommendations of the Appeal Committee were reviewed, considered and approved by the National Working Committee as the party's final decision on the affected constituencies.

The APC said the changes were made in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and the regulations and guidelines issued by INEC.

Major Senatorial Changes

Among the most notable changes, serving Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende emerged as the APC candidate for Benue North East, replacing former Governor Gabriel Suswam.

In Benue North West, Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber as the party's candidate.

Former Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, lost the APC ticket for Ondo North Senatorial District to Olajide Ipinsagbe, while Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire emerged as the candidate for Ondo Central, replacing Taiwo Fasorati.

Other senatorial substitutions include Senator Sunday Karimi replacing Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West, Prince Paul Ikonne emerging for Abia South in place of Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu, and Shuibu Isa Lau replacing Mohammed Kabir Bello for Taraba North.

House Of Representatives Changes

The review also produced widespread changes to the APC's House of Representatives candidates.

Benue recorded five substitutions, while six federal constituency candidates were replaced in Ondo State, including Donald Ojogo, who secured the ticket for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, and Festus Olarewaju, who emerged as the party's candidate for Idanre Federal Constituency.

Additional substitutions were made across Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states as the ruling party concluded its post-primary review process ahead of the 2027 elections.

Over 700 Petitions Reviewed

The latest changes followed the APC's review of more than 700 petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants after the party's primary elections.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, had earlier disclosed that the National Working Committee thoroughly examined the petitions before approving the final list of candidates.

"We took our time to undertake a very thorough review of all the petitions that came after the primaries. There were over 700 petitions, and they were properly vetted," Morka said.

"Some were successful and some were not. Those that were successful led to corrections in some constituencies. Those that were not meant that those earlier declared were retained. In a few cases, there were upsets based on the outcome of the petitions and decisions were made on them."

He explained that the appeal process had been concluded and that the candidates currently completing their INEC nomination documentation represent the APC's final list.

"We have gone past that. The people filling the forms today are those who emerged originally without challenge and those who emerged through the appeal process. This is the final position of the review," Morka stated.

According to him, the party's immediate priority is ensuring all successful candidates complete and return INEC Form EC9 for submission before the electoral commission's deadline.

He added that although the APC would eventually publish its full list of candidates, completing the nomination process within the stipulated timeframe remains the party's overriding focus.