APC  Drops Suswam, Elegbeleye, Replaces 24 Other Candidates …revised list sent to INEC after party reviews primary election appeals across nine states

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has carried out a sweeping overhaul of its National Assembly candidates’ list, dropping former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye and 24 other candidates following the review of appeals arising from the party’s primaries.

The revised list, which has been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), replaces seven senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates across Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.

The updated nominations were transmitted to INEC in a joint letter signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, after the party concluded its internal dispute resolution process.

According to the party, the changes followed the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeal Committee, whose report was reviewed and approved by the NWC as the APC’s final position on the affected constituencies.

“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 following the determination of appeals from the recently concluded primary elections, the committee’s recommendations were adopted by the party leadership in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations and guidelines.

Among the major changes, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam lost the Benue North East senatorial ticket to Emmanuel Memga Udende, while Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber for the Benue North West seat.

In Ondo State, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye was replaced by Olajide Ipinsagbe as the APC’s candidate for Ondo North Senatorial District. Taiwo Fasorati also lost the Ondo Central ticket to Adeniyi Adegbonmire.

Other notable substitutions include Kogi West, where Senator Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele; Abia South, where Prince Paul Ikonne emerged in place of Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu; and Taraba North, where Shuibu Isa Lau replaced Mohammed Kabir Bello.

The shake-up also affected several House of Representatives candidates.

In Benue State, five candidates were substituted, including Ikper Chris Terfa, who was replaced by Dickson Tarkighir for the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, while Livinus Tsar Adzor gave way to Sesoo Ikpagher for the Vandeikya/Konshisha seat.

Ondo State recorded one of the highest numbers of changes, with six House of Representatives candidates replaced. Among them, Donald Ojogo secured the Ilaje/Ese-Odo ticket in place of Akingboye Leke, while Festus Olarewaju replaced Rasaq Obe in Idanre Federal Constituency.

Additional substitutions were made in Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi as the ruling party finalised its National Assembly candidates ahead of the general elections.

The latest changes are expected to reshape APC’s electoral strategy in several key constituencies, especially in states where disputes arising from the party’s primaries had threatened internal cohesion.