The All Progressives Congress has finalised its candidate lists for the 2027 elections, dropping several high-profile figures including former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam as internal power struggles intensify
The All Progressives Congress has dramatically reshaped its candidate lists for the 2027 general elections, dropping former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Ondo House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye and 19 other House candidates who emerged victorious in the May primaries.
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The party, through its National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, forwarded the revised lists to the Independent National Electoral Commission, citing determinations by the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The affected states include Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
In a letter to INEC, the party leadership stated that the reports of the Appeal Committee were reviewed and approved by the National Working Committee as the final position on the affected constituencies.
Seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies were impacted.
Notable replacements include Senator Sunday Karimi taking over from Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West, Prince Paul Ikonne replacing Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu in Abia South, and Emmanuel Memga Udende substituting Gabriel Suswam in Benue North East. In Benue North West, Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T Aber.
Similar changes occurred in Taraba North, Ondo Central and Ondo North, where Gbenga Elegbeleye was replaced by Olajide Ipinsagbe.
The list of affected House candidates spans multiple states, reflecting intense internal negotiations and appeals.
The developments confirm earlier reports that the party had begun distributing nomination forms to selected aspirants, effectively closing the window for many aggrieved politicians seeking reconsideration.
The outcome underscores the significant influence of state governors in determining candidates, a strategy largely supported by President Bola Tinubu but which has triggered widespread internal crises.
Several heavyweight senators and incumbents have lost out, including Senator Gbenga Daniel in Ogun East after a public feud with Governor Dapo Abiodun, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi in Osun Central, and multiple senators in the North Central zone. In Edo and Delta, primaries were marred by violence and disputes.
A senior APC chieftain acknowledged that while the president granted governors considerable autonomy, the resulting parallel primaries and high-profile casualties have created self-inflicted wounds that the party must now heal ahead of the general elections.
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The finalisation of the lists marks a decisive phase in the APC’s preparation for 2027, as the party balances internal power dynamics with its broader electoral ambitions.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
