The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has significantly reshaped its list of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections, replacing former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, alongside 24 other aspirants across several states.
The changes, which affect seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies, followed the review of petitions submitted after the party’s primary elections and recommendations by the
APC Primary Election Appeal Committee.
According to documents forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC National Working Committee (NWC) approved a revised list of candidates for the affected constituencies.
The communication was jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
Although the APC officially attributed the substitutions to the outcome of the appeal process, party insiders suggested the decisions also reflected ongoing efforts to strengthen internal cohesion and accommodate influential political stakeholders.
One of the most notable changes occurred in Benue State, where Senator Gabriel Suswam lost the APC ticket for Benue North East Senatorial District to Emmanuel Memga Udende.
Sources familiar with the development alleged that the move was linked to the political power struggle involving Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Former House of Representatives member, Gbenga Elegbeleye, was also replaced as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Ondo North by Olajide Ipinsagba.
Other affected states include Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi, where several winners of the May primary elections were substituted with new candidates.
Meanwhile, the APC is also restructuring its internal processes by allowing governors and key state stakeholders greater influence in distributing and processing INEC nomination forms for candidates ahead of the July 11 deadline.
The development comes amid lingering complaints over the conduct of the party’s primaries, which generated hundreds of petitions alleging irregularities, imposition of candidates and manipulation of delegates’ lists.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the immediate priority of the party is ensuring that all approved candidates complete their nomination forms for submission to INEC within the stipulated timeframe, noting that the full list of candidates would be released after the nomination process is concluded.
The party’s leadership is also expected to hold further consultations with APC governors to address grievances arising from the primaries and prevent deeper divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This report is based on verified information released by the APC and INEC-related developments, alongside clearly attributed claims from party sources.
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