2027: APC rejigs NASS candidate list, drops Suswam, Elegbeleye, 24 others 

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 its final list of National Assembly candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The sweeping changes, approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), affected seven senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives nominees across Benue, Ondo, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.

The revised candidate list was formally transmitted to INEC through a letter jointly signed by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman, and Senator Ajibola Basiru, the national secretary.

According to the party, the substitutions followed recommendations by its primary election appeal committee after a comprehensive review of petitions arising from the recently concluded primaries.

The APC said the revised nominations represent the party’s final position on the affected constituencies and comply fully with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s guidelines.

Among the major changes, Emmanuel Memga Udende replaced Gabriel Suswam as the APC senatorial candidate for Benue North East, while Titus Tartenger Zam emerged as the party’s candidate for Benue North West.

In Ondo State, Gbenga Elegbeleye lost the Ondo North senatorial ticket to Olajide Ipinsagbe, while Adeniyi Adegbonmire replaced Taiwo Fasorati for the Ondo Central senatorial district.

Other notable substitutions include Senator Sunday Karimi, who replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West, Prince Paul Ikonne, who emerged as the APC candidate for Abia South, and Shuibu Isa Lau, who secured the Taraba North senatorial ticket.

The shake-up also extended to the House of Representatives, with Benue and Ondo recording the highest number of replacements. In Benue, five previously declared winners lost their tickets, while six federal constituency candidates were substituted in Ondo.

Party leaders said the changes conclude the APC’s internal appeal process, clearing the way for its candidates to proceed with documentation and preparations for the 2027 general election.