JUST IN: APC Drops Suswam, Elegbeleye, 24 Others from Final INEC List
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dropped former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye and 24 other aspirants from the party’s final list of National Assembly candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The decision, which followed the party’s internal appeal process, also resulted in the replacement of seven senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates across nine states.
The affected states are Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
The revised list was transmitted to INEC through a letter jointly signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
Titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” the letter stated that the changes were based on the recommendations of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee following a review of petitions arising from the recently concluded primaries.
According to the APC leadership, the review and approval of the committee’s report represent the party’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.
“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 letter stated.
The party said the substitutions were made in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Under the revised senatorial list, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam lost the Benue North East ticket to Emmanuel Memga Udende, while Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber in Benue North West.
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. Adeniyi Adegbonmire also replaced Taiwo Fasorati in Ondo Central.
Other changes include the substitution of Aro Samuel Bamidele with Senator Sunday Karimi in Kogi West, Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu with Prince Paul Ikonne in Abia South, and Mohammed Kabir Bello with Shuibu Isa Lau in Taraba North.
The APC also effected extensive changes to its House of Representatives candidates.
In Benue State, five candidates were replaced, including Ikper Chris Terfa, who was substituted by Dickson Tarkighir in the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, while Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor in the Vandekiya/Konshisha Federal Constituency.
Ondo State recorded six substitutions, including Donald Ojogo replacing Akingboye Leke in the Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency and Festus Olarewaju replacing Rasaq Obe in the Idanre Federal Constituency.
Further substitutions were made in Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states as the ruling party concluded its review of disputes arising from its National Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.