The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has revised its list of senatorial candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ahead of the 2027 general election, they removed five candidates who had initially emerged from the party’s primary elections.
Among those affected by the changes is former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam, one of the most prominent figures to lose his place on the final list despite being declared the winner during the APC primaries held in May.
According to a report by Daily Trust, the APC explained the changes in a letter addressed to INEC.
The correspondence, signed by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, stated that the adjustments were made based on the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The candidates who were replaced are listed below:
Gabriel Suswam
Gabriel Suswam, the former governor of Benue State, was removed from the party’s final list following the recommendations of the appeal committee.
His place was taken by Emmanuel Memga Udende, who had defeated Suswam during the 2023 elections when the former governor contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Suswam joined the APC in February 2026 after leaving the PDP, seeking to secure the party’s senatorial ticket and unseat Udende. However, the appeal committee later reinstated Udende, whose name has now been forwarded to INEC as the APC candidate for the Benue North East Senatorial District election.
Taiwo Fasoranti
Taiwo Fasoranti, the former Secretary to the Ondo State Government and son of Afenifere national leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti, had initially been announced as the winner of the APC primary for the Ondo Central Senatorial District.
That outcome was later overturned by the party’s appeal committee, with the APC ultimately submitting the name of Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the serving senator, as its candidate for the seat.
Aro Samuel Bamidele
Aro Samuel Bamidele, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented the Yagba Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2011, was originally declared the winner of the APC senatorial primary for Kogi West.
The decision was later reversed, and his name was removed from the party’s final list. The APC instead gave the ticket to Senator Sunday Karimi, the incumbent lawmaker seeking another term in office.
The other senatorial candidates who were replaced are:
4. Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu replaced by Prince Paul Ikonne in Abia South Senatorial district.
5. Benjamin T. Aber replaced by Titus Tartenger Zam in Benue North West Senatorial district.
6. Mohammed Kabir Bello replaced by Shuaibu Isa Lau in Taraba North Senatorial district.
7. Gbenga Elegbeleye replaced by Olajide Ipinsagba in Ondo North Senatorial district.
