THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has removed former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, and former House of Representatives member, Gbenga Elegbeleye, from the party’s final list of National Assembly candidates.
Five other senatorial aspirants and 19 House of Representatives candidates were replaced in all.
According to an official document obtained by ThisDay, the changes affected constituencies across nine states- Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
The revised list was formally transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through a joint letter signed by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
The correspondence, titled, ‘Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,’ stated that the changes were made following recommendations by the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism after a comprehensive review of the nomination process.
The letter read: “We write to formally forward the attached list of the party’s candidates for the affected senatorial and House of Representatives candidates’ constituencies arising from the report of the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
“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.
“In accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and INEC’s regulations and guidelines, we hereby transmit the enclosed list of the approved candidates for seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies for your records and necessary action.
“Please accept the assurance of our highest regards.”
A breakdown of the final senatorial list showed that in Benue North East, Suswam was replaced by Emmanuel Memga Udende, and Titus Tartenger Zam by Benjamin T. Aber in Benue North West.
Gbenga Elegbeleye lost his Ondo North ticket to Olajide Ipinsagbe, and Taiwo Fasorati to Adeniyi Adegbonmire for Ondo Central.
Other notable substitutions include Kogi West, where Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele; Abia South, where Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu; and Taraba North, where Shuibu Isa Lau replaced Mohammed Kabir Bello.
For the House of Representatives, Benue alone witnessed five upturns, with Ikper Chris Terfa (Makurdi/Human) replaced by Dickson Tarkighir, and Livinus Tsar Adzor (Vandekiya/Konshsha) replaced by Sesoo Ikpagher.
In Ondo, Donald Ojogo replaced Akingboye Leke for Ilaje/Ese-Ode Federal Constituency, and Festus Olarewaju substituted with Rasaq Obe in Idanre Federal Constituency. There were similar substitutions in Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.
