2027: Why APC replaced ‘validly’ elected National Assembly candidates across 9 states
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended its controversial decision to replace several candidates who had previously been declared winners of the party’s National Assembly primary elections held in May.
The substitutions, which were uncovered after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) granted political parties access codes to upload their official nominees, have triggered fresh internal crises across nine states: Abia, Benue, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, and Taraba.
In total, six senatorial tickets and 19 House of Representatives slots were altered before the final list was submitted to INEC.
Over 700 Petitions Received – APC Defends Action
Reacting to the brewing resentment among dropped aspirants, the APC national leadership maintained that its National Working Committee (NWC) acted within its constitutional powers to determine the party’s final flagbearers.
In an official letter addressed to INEC Chairman, jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, the party explained that the changes followed the recommendations of its Primary Election Appeal Committee.
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APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, disclosed that the party thoroughly vetted a massive influx of complaints.
“For those aggrieved, we took our time to undertake a very thorough review of all the petitions that came after the primaries. There were over 700 petitions that were received and properly vetted,” Morka said.
He added that the final list represents candidates who either ran unchallenged or emerged victorious through the formal internal appeal process.
State-by-State Breakdown of Key Replacements
The high-stakes political maneuvering reshuffled power dynamics in several states.
Kaduna: Seyi Tinubu’s Ally Displaces Governor Uba Sani’s Pick
In Kaduna State, Samaila Audu Sulaiman—a former federal lawmaker and widely believed to be the preferred candidate of Governor Uba Sani—was dropped despite winning the primary for the Kaduna North federal constituency. He was replaced by a newcomer, Abdulazeez Kaka, who is known to be a close associate of the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Benue: Balancing the Alia and Akume Factions
The power struggle between Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, took center stage in the substitutions.
Former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who recently defected to the APC and won the Benue North-East senatorial ticket under Governor Alia’s faction, was dropped. The NWC restored the ticket to the incumbent, Senator Emmanuel Udende, an ally of Akume.
The adjustments in Benue aimed to enforce a directive allegedly issued by President Bola Tinubu to grant automatic return tickets to serving National Assembly members—a directive Governor Alia had initially resisted.
Kwara: ‘O to ge’ Coalition Crumbles Deeper into Crisis
In Kwara State, 14 high-profile stakeholders, including Senators Saliu Mustapha, Sadiq Umar, and Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, have petitioned President Tinubu to intervene. The group warned that the party risks going into the 2027 elections politically weakened due to the unfair replacement of candidates.
Local observers tie the crisis to the collapse of the 2019 “O to ge” coalition, accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration of sidelining key party figures. Meanwhile, the Kaiama Development Association (KDA) has strongly rejected the imposition of Saidu Baba Ahmed for the Kaiama/Baruten Federal Constituency, citing a lack of consultation with local stakeholders.
Ondo: Local Governments Reject NWC’s List
Following petitions of widespread violence and thuggery during the May primaries, the NWC heavily altered the Ondo list. Notable changes include Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire replacing Taiwo Fasoranti for Ondo Central.
However, the 18 Local Government Chairmen in the state, operating under the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), have formally rejected the NWC’s changes. Political analyst Olumuyiwa Asagunla warned that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s inability to protect his endorsed candidates might hurt the APC’s fortunes in the 2027 presidential polls. Conversely, party stakeholder Demola Ijabiyi urged calm, advising aggrieved members to accept the NWC’s supreme decision.
Full List of Substituted Candidates
| State / Constituency | Outgoing Candidate (Original Winner) | Incoming Candidate (Final Substituted Nominee) |
| Senate | ||
| Kogi West | Aro Samuel Bamidele | Senator Sunday Karimi |
| Abia South | Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu | Prince Paul Ikonne |
| Benue North East | Gabriel Suswam | Emmanuel Memga Udende |
| Benue North West | Benjamin T. Aber | Titus Tartenger Zam |
| Taraba North | Mohammed Kabir Bello | Shuaibu Isa Lau |
| Ondo Central | Taiwo Fasoranti | Adeniyi Adegbonmire |
| Ondo North | Gbenga Elegbeleye | Olajide Ipinsagba |
| House of Representatives | ||
| Makurdi/Guma (Benue) | Ikper Chris Terfa | Dickson Tarkighir |
| Vandeikya/Konshisha (Benue) | Livinus Tsar Adzor | Sesoo Ikpagher |
| Kwande/Ushongo (Benue) | Kohol Shedrach Iornem | Terser Ugbor |
| Buruku (Benue) | Gideon Inyom | Sekav Dzua Iyortyom |
| Gwer East/Gwer West (Benue) | Nongo David | Austin Asema Achado |
| Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna (Taraba) | Sanusi Mohammed Galadima | Peter Abel Diah |
| Suleja/Tafa/Gurara (Niger) | Adamu Tanko | Abubakar Lado Abdullahi |
| Lavun/Edati/Mokwa (Niger) | Adamu Usman | Adamu Suleiman |
| Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero (Kwara) | Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi | Raheem Tunji Olawuyi |
| Edu/Patigi/Moro (Kwara) | Bello Tauheed Abubakar | Mohammed Mamman |
| Ilaje/Ese-Odo (Ondo) | Akingboye Leke | Donald Ojogo |
| Idanre (Ondo) | Rasaq Obe | Festus Olarewaju |
| Owo/Ose (Ondo) | Kayode Ijalana | Oluwatimehin Akintomide |
| Okitipupa/Irele (Ondo) | Olumuyiwa Daramola | Okunjinmi John Odimayo |
| Ondo West/Ondo East (Ondo) | Abiola Makinde | Michel Olamidotun Akintomide |
| Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo (Ondo) | Oyerinmade Matthew | Festus Ayodele Adefiranye |
| Kaduna North (Kaduna) | Samaila Abdu Suleiman | Abdulazeez Kaka |
| Ukwa East/Ukwa West (Abia) | Chris Nkwonta | Samuel Okezie |
| Afikpo North/Edda (Ebonyi) | Iduma Igariwey Enwo | Ekumankama Joseph Nkama |
Legal Concerns Raised
The sweeping changes have drawn sharp criticism from political analysts and legal minds who argue that the ruling party is setting a dangerous precedent.
Speaking on the development, political analysts Professor Abubakar Kari and Professor Saleh Dauda described the replacements as an act of political impunity. Kari noted that the manipulation of lists post-primary “negates the fundamental tenets of democracy,” while Dauda argued that any disqualifications should have occurred before aspirants purchased expensive nomination forms.
From a constitutional standpoint, Kano-based lawyer Barrister Umar Usman Danbaito pointed out that subsequent Supreme Court rulings have substantially trimmed down the absolute powers political parties once wielded regarding candidate substitution, warning that the APC’s current actions could face severe legal vulnerabilities in court.
