Fresh details have emerged on the replacement of several All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates despite their victories in the party’s May primaries.
According to Daily Trust, the substitutions affected candidates in Abia, Benue, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo and Taraba after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opened its nomination portal. Among those affected was former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who was replaced as the APC candidate for Benue North-East Senatorial District.
The report said Suswam defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), briefly joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and later aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia before winning the May 18 primary conducted by the governor’s faction. Following petitions, however, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) reviewed the process and reinstated incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende, an ally of Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
Daily Trust said the decision was widely viewed as strengthening Akume’s influence after months of rivalry with Governor Alia. However, Suswam’s media aide, Bede Bartholomew, dismissed reports of the substitution, while Benue APC Chairman Benjamin Omale said the state chapter had not received any official communication from the party’s national headquarters.
