The All Progressives Congress (APC) has replaced former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, former Ondo lawmaker Gbenga Elegbeleye and 23 other National Assembly candidates after reviewing appeals arising from its May primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The changes affect five senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates across Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states. The party transmitted the revised list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through a letter jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
According to the APC, the revised list followed recommendations made by the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee after reviewing petitions submitted by aspirants dissatisfied with the conduct of the primaries.
The letter accompanying the submission stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) approved the final list in line with the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and INEC regulations. Party sources, however, indicated that political calculations and efforts to return greater control of state party structures to governors and influential stakeholders also influenced the decisions.
One senior APC member, who spoke anonymously, alleged that Suswam’s removal was linked to the political rivalry between Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Among the senatorial changes, Emmanuel Memga Udende replaced Gabriel Suswam in Benue North East, while Olajide Ipinsagba took over the Ondo North ticket from Gbenga Elegbeleye.
Other changes include Prince Paul Ikonne replacing Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu in Abia South, Shuibu Isa Lau replacing Mohammed Kabir Bello in Taraba North, Adeniyi Adegbonmire replacing Taiwo Fasoranti in Ondo Central, and Sunday Karimi replacing Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West. The House of Representatives list also witnessed extensive adjustments, especially in Benue and Ondo states, where several candidates were substituted following the review process.
APC candidate replacements have also coincided with the party’s decision to allow governors and major stakeholders greater influence over the distribution of INEC nomination forms. Although the National Working Committee forwarded the forms to state chapters, party sources said candidates enjoying the backing of governors are expected to have easier access to the nomination process.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, confirmed that the party received more than 700 petitions after the primaries. He explained that the immediate priority is ensuring candidates complete nomination forms before INEC’s deadline for uploading candidate particulars, scheduled to run from June 27 to July 11.
“They are to complete and return the forms to the party for upload to the INEC portal, so making the list public is not our priority now,” Morka said.
APC candidate replacements come as the party seeks to calm internal disagreements triggered by the primary elections. Governors elected on the APC platform recently met in Abuja under the leadership of Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and agreed to engage the party’s national leadership over concerns arising from the primaries.
The party is also continuing the distribution of nomination forms to governorship and state assembly candidates across the country. APC candidate replacements reflect the party’s effort to conclude its internal nomination process before INEC’s deadline while managing competing political interests across affected states.
