The All Progressives Congress (APC) has modified its list of candidates for the National Assembly in Benue State, removing several individuals previously declared winners and replacing them with new nominees. This adjustment, based on the findings of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee, was formally submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Among the notable changes, Gabriel Suswam lost his spot as the Benue North East Senatorial candidate to incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende. Furthermore, Titus Zam was reinstated as the candidate for the Benue North West Senatorial District, displacing Benjamin Aber.
These revisions significantly impact the balance of power within the state party. The move effectively restores several candidates who had previously lost in the May 2026 primaries—individuals largely viewed as allies of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Five House of Representatives candidates previously aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia were replaced by those who had initially lost their re-election bids, specifically Dickson Tarkighir, Austin Achado, Terser Ugbor, Sekav Iyortyom, and Sesoo Ikpagher.
This development follows a period of intense internal friction between Governor Alia and George Akume. While Governor Alia’s faction previously secured victories by opposing automatic tickets for sitting lawmakers, the national party leadership has now intervened. Currently, both the camps of the Governor and the SGF maintain influence over seven National Assembly tickets each, marking a notable shift from the post-primary results.
