APC Ditches Suswam, 25 Other NASS Candidates in Last-Minute Change

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dropped former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and 25 other senatorial and House of Representatives candidates from the party's final lists forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The move, attributed to the report of the Primary Election Appeal Committee, affects several states, including Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi.

Among the senatorial replacements, Senator Sunday Karimi displaced Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West; Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu was replaced by Prince Paul Ikonne in Abia South; Suswam lost the Benue North East ticket to Emmanuel Memga Udende. Mohammed Kabir Bello was replaced by Shuibu Isa Lau in Taraba North; Taiwo Fasoranti was substituted by Adeniyi Adegbonmire in Ondo Central; and Gbenga Elegbeleye lost the Ondo North ticket to Olajide Ipinsagba.

Former governor Suswam has held various public offices since 1999, including Governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015. His tenure was marked by several controversies, including allegations of corruption and poor governance. The 25 other candidates dropped by the APC include Senator Sunday Karimi, Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu, Prince Paul Ikonne, Shuibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Dickson Tarkighir, Sesoo Ikpagher, Terser Ugbor, Gideon Inyom, Nongo David, Austin Asema Achado, Peter Abel Diah, Abubakar Lado Abdullahi, Adamu Suleiman, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi, Mohammed Mamman, Donald Ojogo, Festus Olarewaju, Oluwatimehin Akintomide, Okunjinmi John Odimayo, Michel Olamidotun Akintomide, Festus Ayodele Adefiranye, Abdulazeez Kaka, Samuel Okezie, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, and Iduma Igariwey Enwo.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) attributed the sweeping changes to the report of the Primary Election Appeal Committee, stating that the reports were reviewed and subsequently considered and approved by the NWC as the party's final position on the affected constituencies.

The development has sparked concerns among party loyalists, who are questioning the party's decision-making process. Some have argued that the move may affect the party's chances in the upcoming elections.

The APC has yet to confirm the reasons behind the sudden change, with many speculating that it may be a tactical move to prevent internal conflicts.