The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has removed former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and former House of Representatives member, Gbenga Elegbeleye, from the party’s final list of National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The party also replaced five other senatorial aspirants and 19 House of Representatives candidates following the outcome of its primary election appeal process.
The affected constituencies span nine states – Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
According to a document obtained by The Nation, the revised list has been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The list was transmitted through a joint letter signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
The letter, titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” said the changes followed recommendations by the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.
“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 read in part.
“Following the determination of appeals from the recently concluded primary elections, the reports of the Appeal Committee were reviewed and subsequently considered and approved by the NWC of the APC as the party’s final position on the affected constituencies.”
The party said the substitutions were made in line with the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and the guidelines issued by INEC.
The affected senatorial candidates and their replacements include, Kogi West where Senator Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele, Abia South Senatorial districts where Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu was replaced by Prince Paul Ikonne, Benue North East senatorial district where Gabriel Suswam was replaced by Emmanuel Memga Udende, Benue North West where Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T Aber.
Others are Taraba North senatorial district where Mohammed Kabir Bello was replaced by Shuibu Isa Lau, Ondo Central where Taiwo Fasorati was substituted by Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Ondo North senatorial zone where Gbenga Elegbeleye was replaced by Olajide Ipinsagbe.
In the lists for the House of Representatives in Benue Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa in Makurdi/Human Federal Constituency, Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor in Vandekiya/Konshsha Federal Constituency, Terser Ugbor substituted Kohol Shedrach Iornem in Kwnade/Ushngo Federal constituency, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom in Buruku Federal Constituency while Nongo David was replaced by Austin Asema Achado in Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency.
In Taraba, Peter Abel Diah replaced Sanusi Mohammed Galadima in Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency, while Abubakar Lado Abdullahi substituted Adamu Tanko in Seleja/Tafa/Gurara Federal Constituency and Adamu Suleiman was used to replace Adamu Usman in Lavun/Idati/Mokwa both from Niger State.
In Kwara, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi in Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency and Mohammed Mamman substituted Bello Tauheed Abubakar in Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal Constituency.
In Ondo, Donald Ojogo replaced Akingboye Leke in Ilaje/Ese-Ode Federal Constituency, Festus Olarewaju replaced Rasaq Obe in Idanre Federal Constituency, Oluwatimehin Akintomide replaced Kayode Ijalana in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Okunjinmi John Odimayo replaced Olumuyiwa Daramola in Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Michel Olamidotun Akintomide substituted Abiola Makinde in Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency while Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replaced Oyerinmade Matthew in Ile-Olu/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.
In Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi, the party forwarded names of Abdulazeez Kaka as replacement for Samaila Abdu Suleiman in Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Samuel Okezie as replacement for Chris Nkwonta in Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency Abia while Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replaced Iduma Igaiwe Enwo in Afikpo North/Edda Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State.
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