The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially removed former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye, and 24 other candidates from its final list of National Assembly nominees submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The decision affects seven senatorial seats and 19 House of Representatives constituencies following primary elections held in May.
The leadership of the party, represented by National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, formalized these changes in a letter to the electoral commission.
The correspondence clarified that the substitutions were made upon the recommendations of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The letter stated, “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 adjustments in the senatorial category include several high-profile replacements.
In Benue North-East, Emmanuel Memga Udende replaced Gabriel Suswam, while Titus Tartenger Zam took the ticket for Benue North-West from Benjamin T. Aber.
In Kogi West, Senator Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele, and in Abia South, Prince Paul Ikonne succeeded Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu.
Additional senatorial changes saw Shuibu Isa Lau replace Mohammed Kabir Bello in Taraba North, Adeniyi Adegbonmire succeed Taiwo Fasoranti in Ondo Central, and Olajide Ipinsagba replace Gbenga Elegbeleye for the Ondo North seat.
The House of Representatives category saw significant reshuffling across several states.
Benue State recorded the highest volume of changes, with five constituencies impacted, including new candidates for Makurdi/Guma, Vandeikya/Konshisha, Kwande/Ushongo, Buruku, and Gwer East/Gwer West. Ondo State also saw extensive revisions, with six federal constituencies receiving new candidates.
Further substitutions were finalized for constituencies in Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, Abia, and Ebonyi states.
The APC leadership confirmed that these final revisions have been transmitted to INEC to comply with the Electoral Act 2022 and the commission’s established regulations.
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