The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially updated its list of candidates for the National Assembly, replacing former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and 25 other aspirants. This decision impacts senatorial and House of Representatives tickets across several states, including Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi.
While the party leadership claims these changes stem from the report of the Primary Election Appeal Committee, internal sources suggest political maneuvering is the primary driver. In Benue State, for instance, insiders report that Suswam was removed to align with the interests of Senator George Akume in his ongoing power struggle with Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The updated list was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a review of primary election disputes. The party maintains that this process adheres to the Electoral Act 2022. To manage internal unrest, the APC has granted governors significant influence in overseeing the distribution of nomination forms. This strategy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to allow state leadership to hold sway over local candidate selections. As the party moves toward the upcoming elections, it is currently holding reconciliation meetings to address grievances from the primary process.
