The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has replaced seven senatorial candidates and 19 house of representatives nominees in the final list of candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The changes affect candidates in Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.
In a correspondence to INEC signed by Nentawe Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, and Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary, the party said the substitutions followed the recommendations of its primary election appeal committee.
Among those dropped is Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Benue state, who had emerged as the party’s senatorial candidate for Benue North-east during the APC primaries held in May.
The revised list restored the tickets of six serving senators, while Paul Ikonne, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), replaced Uchenna Erondu, a member of the Abia House of Assembly, as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Abia South Senatorial District.
LIST OF REPLACED SENATORIAL CANDIDATES
Kogi West: Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele; Abia South: Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu; Benue North-east: Emmanuel Udende replaced Gabriel Suswam; Benue North-west: Titus Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber; Taraba North: Shuaibu Isa Lau replaced Mohammed Kabir Bello; Ondo Central: Adeniyi Adegbonmire replaced Taiwo Fasoranti and Ondo North: Olajide Ipinsagba replaced Gbenga Elegbeleye.
The APC also replaced 19 house of representatives candidates across Benue, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi states.
LIST OF REPLACED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES
Benue: Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa; Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor; Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Terser Ugbor replaced Kohol Shedrach Iornem; Buruku Federal Constituency, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom; and Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Austin Asema Achado replaced Nongo David.
Taraba: Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency, London Peter Abel Diah replaced Sanusi Mohammed Galadima.
Niger: Suleja/Tafa/Gurara Federal Constituency, Abubakar Lado Abdullahi replaced Adamu Tanko; and Lavun/Edati/Mokwa Federal Constituency, Adamu Suleiman replaced Adamu Usman.
Kwara: Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi; and Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal Constituency, Mohammed Mamman replaced Bello Tauheed Abubakar.
Ondo: Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Donald Ojogo replaced Akingboye Leke; Idanre Federal Constituency, Festus Olarewaju replaced Rasaq Obe; Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Oluwatimehin Akintomide replaced Kayode Ijalana; Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Okunjinmi John Odimayo replaced Olumuyiwa Daramola; Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency, Michel Olamidotun Akintomide replaced Abiola Makinde; and
Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency, Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replaced Oyerinmade Matthew.
Kaduna: Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Abdulazeez Kaka replaced Samaila Abdu Suleiman.
Abia: Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Samuel Okezie replaced Chris Nkwonta.
Ebonyi: Afikpo North/Edda Federal Constituency, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replaced Iduma Igariwey Enwo.
The APC concluded its senatorial and house of representatives primaries in May, producing serving Governors, former Governors and incumbent lawmakers as candidates for the 2027 elections.
Among those who secured the party’s senatorial tickets are Godswill Akpabio, Senate President; Jibrin Barau, Deputy Senate President; Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader; Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo Governor; Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia Governor; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun Governor; Hope Uzodimma, Imo Governor; and Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa Governor.
The revised list means Suswam is no longer among the ruling party’s senatorial candidates for the 2027 election.
Source: The Cable
