The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved significant changes to the party’s list of candidates for the forthcoming elections, resulting in the replacement of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and several other aspirants whose names were initially linked to the party’s ticket.
The revised list, which has been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), also excludes former member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Gbenga Elegbeleye, alongside a number of other candidates.
According to documents submitted by the ruling party, the changes affect six senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies across several states, including Abia, Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Ebonyi, Ondo, Kaduna, Niger, and Kwara.
The APC explained that the adjustments followed recommendations made by its Primary Election Appeal Committee after reviewing petitions arising from the party’s primary elections conducted in May 2026.
In a letter addressed to INEC and jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, the party stated that the revised list reflected the final decisions reached by its leadership after considering the committee’s findings.
The correspondence, titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” noted that appeals submitted by aggrieved aspirants were thoroughly examined before the National Working Committee ratified the final outcome.
The party said the updated list was being transmitted in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s guidelines governing the nomination of candidates.
Meanwhile, several high-profile APC figures have successfully secured their positions on the party’s final list. They include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, all of whom received their Candidate Affidavit Forms (EC9).
The APC also cleared four serving governors to pursue senatorial ambitions. They are Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
In Kaduna State, former Governor Mukhtar Yero, former senator Shehu Sani, and Senator Sunday Katung were among those approved to contest Senate seats on the party’s platform.
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello also secured the APC ticket for Kogi Central Senatorial District and is listed among the party’s 109 senatorial candidates nationwide.
Party sources indicated that the uploading of candidates’ details to the INEC portal remains an ongoing exercise and follows the ratification of results from the party’s April primary elections as well as subsequent reviews arising from appeal proceedings.
For the House of Representatives, notable APC candidates include Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Mudashiru Obasa, and James Faleke, all of whom are expected to represent the party in the next general election.
The affected candidates and their replacements are:
SENATE
Kogi West: Senator Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele.
Abia South: Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Erondu Uchenna Erondu.
Benue North East: Emmanuel Memga Udende replaced Gabriel Suswam.
Benue North West: Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber.
Taraba North: Shuaibu Isa Lau replaced Mohammed Kabir Bello.
Ondo Central: Adeniyi Adegbonmire replaced Taiwo Fasoranti.
Ondo North: Olajide Ipinsagba replaced Gbenga Elegbeleye.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Benue:
Makurdi/Guma: Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa.
Vandeikya/Konshisha: Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor.
Kwande/Ushongo: Terser Ugbor replaced Kohol Shedrach Iornem.
Buruku: Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom.
Gwer East/Gwer West: Austin Asema Achado replaced Nongo David.
Taraba & Niger:
Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna (Taraba): Peter Abel Diah replaced Sanusi Mohammed Galadima.
Suleja/Tafa/Gurara (Niger): Abubakar Lado Abdullahi substituted Adamu Tanko.
Lavun/Edati/Mokwa (Niger): Adamu Suleiman replaced Adamu Usman.
Kwara:
Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero: Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi.
Edu/Patigi/Moro: Mohammed Mamman substituted Bello Tauheed Abubakar.
Ondo:
Ilaje/Ese-Odo: Donald Ojogo replaced Akingboye Leke.
Idanre: Festus Olarewaju replaced Rasaq Obe.
Owo/Ose: Oluwatimehin Akintomide replaced Kayode Ijalana.
Okitipupa/Irele: Okunjinmi John Odimayo replaced Olumuyiwa Daramola.
Ondo West/Ondo East: Michel Olamidotun Akintomide substituted Abiola Makinde.
Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo: Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replaced Oyerinmade Matthew.
Kaduna, Abia, Ebonyi:
Kaduna North (Kaduna): Abdulazeez Kaka replaced Samaila Abdu Suleiman.
Ukwa East/Ukwa West (Abia): Samuel Okezie replaced Chris Nkwonta.
Afikpo North/Edda (Ebonyi): Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replaced Iduma Igariwey Enwo.
