NASS primary: APC drops Suswam, Elegbeleye, 5 other senatorial, 19 Reps aspirants
NASS primary: APC drops Suswam, Elegbeleye, 5 other senatorial, 19 Reps aspirants
By Idun Maximus
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dropped former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, former Ondo State House of Representatives member, Gbenga Elegbeleye and five other senatorial aspirants from the final list of the party’s candidates forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also contained in the final lists of dropped and replaced candidates forwarded to the electoral commission include 19 House of Representatives candidates that emerged victorious in the May party’s primary elections.
According to the document, the states affected include; Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
In the correspondence the ruling party sent to the electoral umpire signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary, Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru respectively, the party’s national leadership attributed the changes to the reports of the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
Titled; Forwarding of Approved List of senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates, 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 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.”
The affected senatorial aspirants and their replacements include, Kogi West where Senator Sunday Karimi replaced Aro Samuel Bamidele, Abia South Senatorial districts where Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu was replaced by Prince Paul Ikonne, Benue North East senatorial district where Gabriel Suswam was replaced by Emmanuel Memga Udende, Benue North West where Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T Aber.
Others are Taraba North senatorial district where Mohammed Kabir Bello was replaced by Shuibu Isa Lau, Ondo Central where Taiwo Fasoranti was substituted by Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Ondo North senatorial zone where Gbenga Elegbeleye was replaced by Olajide Ipinsagbe.
In the lists for the House of Representatives in Benue, Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa in Makurdi/Human Federal Constituency, Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor in Vandekiya/Konshsha Federal Constituency, Terser Ugbor substituted Kohol Shedrach Iornem in Kwnade/Ushngo Federal constituency, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom in Buruku Federal Constituency while Nongo David was replaced by Austin Asema Achado in Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency.
In Taraba, Peter Abel Diah’s name was forwarded to INEC to replace Sanusi Mohammed Galadima in Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency, while Abubakar Lado Abdullahi substituted Adamu Tanko in
Seleja/Tafa/Gurara Federal Constituency, and Adamu Suleiman was used to replace Adamu Usman in Lavun/Idati/Mokwa both from Niger state.
In Kwara, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced
Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi in Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency and Mohammed Mamman substituted Bello Tauheed Abubakar in Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal Constituency.
In Ondo, Donald Ojogo replaced Akingboye Leke in Ilaje/Ese-Ode Federal Constituency, Festus Olarewaju replaced Rasaq Obe in Idanre Federal Constituency, Oluwatimehin Akintomide replaced Kayode Ijalana in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, and Okunjinmi John Odimayo replaced Olumuyiwa Daramola in Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency. Michel Olamidotun Akintomide substituted Abiola Makinde in Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency while Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replaced Oyerinmade Matthew in Ile-Olu/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.
In Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi, the ruling party forwarded the names of ,Abdulazeez Kaka as replacement for Samaila Abdu Suleiman, Samuel Okezie as replacement for Chris Nkwonta in Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Abia while Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replaced Iduma Igariwe Enwo in Afikpo North/Edda Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State.
