The All Progressives Congress has finally submitted its final list of National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the document reveals a dramatic story of political survival, factional battles, and power plays that will shape the 2027 elections. The party’s National Working Committee replaced 26 aspirants across nine states after reviewing more than 700 petitions from aggrieved candidates who felt cheated during the May primaries. This is not just a routine administrative exercise—it is a clear signal of who holds power within the ruling party and which factions won or lost in the internal struggle for tickets.
Why the APC Changed Its Candidates
The APC received an astonishing 700 petitions from aspirants who were unhappy with how the primaries were conducted. The party set up a Primary Election Appeal Committee to review all these complaints, and after weeks of deliberation, the National Working Committee adopted the committee’s recommendations. The party stated that the changes were made in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s guidelines governing candidate nominations.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, explained that the party took time to thoroughly audit every grievance rather than dismissing complaints. He said some petitions were successful and some were not, and in a few cases, there were upsets based on the outcome of the petitions. With the petition window now closed, the APC declared its current candidate line-up as final and absolute.
The Benue State Political Earthquake
The most significant changes happened in Benue State, where the outcome of the May primaries was effectively reversed. During the House of Representatives primaries held on May 17, six serving lawmakers believed to be aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, lost their re-election bids. Two days later, former Governor Gabriel Suswam defeated incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende in the Benue North East senatorial primary, while Benjamin Aber emerged ahead of Titus Zam in Benue North West. Those victories were widely seen as evidence of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s growing influence within the Benue APC.
But the NWC’s review changed all that. Gabriel Suswam was replaced by Emmanuel Udende, while Titus Zam emerged in place of Benjamin Aber. In the House of Representatives, five constituencies were affected—Dickson Tarkighir replaced Christopher Ikper in Makurdi/Guma, Austin Achado took over from Terhemba Nongo in Gwer East/Gwer West, Terser Ugbor replaced Kohol Iormem in Kwande/Ushongo, Sekav Iyortyom displaced Gideon Inyom in Buruku, and Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar in Vandeikya/Konshisha.
The result is a carefully balanced 7-7 split between Governor Alia’s camp and the Akume camp. Governor Alia’s camp retained seven major National Assembly tickets, while the Akume camp also controls seven National Assembly tickets. This suggests that the party leadership is managing the rivalry between two of Benue’s most influential political figures by ensuring both sides get their share of tickets.
Ondo State Sees Major Changes
Ondo State recorded the highest number of House of Representatives substitutions outside Benue, with six constituencies affected. Former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye lost the Ondo North senatorial ticket to Olajide Ipinsagbe. Other changes included Donald Ojogo replacing Akingboye Leke in Ilaje/Ese-Odo, Festus Olarewaju emerging for Idanre instead of Rasaq Obe, and Oluwatimehin Akintomide replacing Kayode Ijalana in Owo/Ose.
In Ondo Central Senatorial District, Adeniyi Adegbonmire replaced Taiwo Fasorati. These changes suggest the APC is restructuring its Ondo State ticket to strengthen its chances in a state where the party has historically performed well.
The Abia State Defiance
One of the most interesting developments is happening in Abia State, where the state chapter of the APC has openly defied the national leadership. The Abia APC released a separate list of candidates for the 2027 general election, ignoring the revised list submitted by the party’s national leadership to INEC. The state chapter congratulated what it described as the winners of the party’s governorship and national assembly primaries conducted by the National Working Committee.
This came just hours after the APC national headquarters replaced Uchenna Erondu with Paul Ikonne as the party’s senatorial candidate for Abia South and substituted Chris Nkwonta with Samuel Okezie for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency. However, the Abia APC retained Erondu and Nkwonta on its list of candidates, and also recognised Eric Oprah as the APC governorship candidate. This open defiance signals a major rift between the state and national leadership that could have serious implications for the party’s performance in Abia State, where the APC has been struggling to gain ground.
What Happens Now?
With the petition window now closed, the APC has declared its current candidate line-up as absolute. The party’s immediate priority is to ensure all candidates complete and return their INEC nomination forms before the deadline. The party stated that successful candidates are actively interacting with party leadership to ensure a smooth transition into the INEC system.
However, the Abia situation remains unresolved. When a state chapter openly defies the national leadership, it suggests deep divisions that could lead to legal battles or parallel campaigns. Voters in these states should pay attention to which candidates are actually recognised by INEC, because only the officially submitted list will appear on the ballot.
What These Changes Mean for Voters
For Nigerian voters, these candidate substitutions are more than just political gossip. They reveal the internal dynamics of the ruling party and help explain which faction holds influence in different states. In Benue, for example, the 7-7 split between Akume and Alia loyalists means the party enters the 2027 elections with unresolved internal tensions. This could affect campaign cohesion and voter turnout in a state that has historically been competitive.
The APC has stated that the changes were based on the findings of its Primary Election Appeal Committee and were made in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act. Whether these changes will stand or face further legal challenges remains to be seen, but for now, the party is moving forward with its final list of candidates for the 2027 elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many APC candidates were replaced in the final list?
The APC replaced 26 aspirants, comprising seven senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives nominees across Benue, Ondo, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi states.
2. Why were the APC candidates changed after the primaries?
The changes followed the review of appeals from the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee, which examined more than 700 petitions from aggrieved aspirants. The National Working Committee adopted the committee’s recommendations as its final decision for the affected constituencies.
3. Which states had the most candidate substitutions?
Benue State had the most significant changes, with two senatorial districts and five House of Representatives constituencies affected. Ondo State also saw major substitutions in six federal constituencies.
4. Why is the Abia APC defying the national leadership?
The Abia state chapter released a separate list of candidates, retaining Uchenna Erondu and Chris Nkwonta even after the national headquarters replaced them. This reflects an internal rift between the state and national leadership.
5. What does the Benue APC changes mean for the 2027 elections?
The changes resulted in a 7-7 split between Governor Alia’s camp and SGF George Akume’s camp. This indicates the party enters the 2027 elections with unresolved internal factional tensions that could affect campaign cohesion.
6. Can the APC candidates list still change before the election?
The party stated this is the final list. However, the Abia state chapter’s defiance and potential legal challenges could lead to further disputes. Ultimately, INEC will recognise the list officially submitted by the party’s national leadership.
