Replaced Senate List: ‘APC Sacrificed Suswam To Please Akume’ – Source

The All Progressives Congress (APC) replaced 25 National Assembly candidates after reviewing the report of its Primary Election Appeal Committee.

The affected candidates comprise five senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates from Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.

The party forwarded the revised list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a letter signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

Titled, “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” the letter stated that the changes followed the consideration of reports submitted by the Primary Election Appeal Committee.

“We write to formally forward the attached list of the party’s candidates for the affected senatorial and House of Representatives 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 the 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 approved candidates for seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies for your records and necessary action,” the letter read.

Report Alleges Political Interests Influenced Changes

However, Vanguard reported that beyond the appeal committee’s recommendations, political considerations also influenced the replacement of some candidates.

According to the report, plans to return control of the party structure in some states to governors and other influential stakeholders contributed to the changes.

A party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the reported exclusion of former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, was linked to the political contest for influence in Benue State.

“Suswam was sacrificed to please Akume,” the source was quoted as saying.

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; while in Benue North West, Titus Tartenger Zam replaced Benjamin T. Aber.

Mohammed Kabir Bello was replaced by Shuibu Isa Lau in Taraba North; Taiwo Fasoranti was substituted by Adeniyi Adegbonmire in Ondo Central; and Elegbeleye lost the Ondo North ticket to Olajide Ipinsagba.

In the House of Representatives, Benue State recorded the most changes, with five federal constituencies affected. Dickson Tarkighir replaced Ikper Chris Terfa in Makurdi/Guma; Sesoo Ikpagher replaced Livinus Tsar Adzor in Vandeikya/Konshisha; Terser Ugbor substituted Kohol Shedrach Iornem in Kwande/Ushongo; Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom in Buruku; while Austin Asema Achado displaced Nongo David in Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency.

In Taraba, Peter Abel Diah was forwarded to replace Sanusi Mohammed Galadima in Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency. Niger State saw Abubakar Lado Abdullahi substitute Adamu Tanko in Suleja/Tafa/Gurara, and Adamu Suleiman replace Adamu Usman in Lavun/Edati/Mokwa.

In Kwara, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replaced Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi in Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero, while Mohammed Mamman substituted Bello Tauheed Abubakar in Edu/Patigi/Moro.

Ondo State recorded six House of Representatives changes, with Donald Ojogo replacing Akingboye Leke in Ilaje/Ese-Odo; Festus Olarewaju replacing Rasaq Obe in Idanre; Oluwatimehin Akintomide replacing Kayode Ijalana in Owo/Ose; Okunjinmi John Odimayo replacing Olumuyiwa Daramola in Okitipupa/Irele; Michel Olamidotun Akintomide substituting Abiola Makinde in Ondo West/Ondo East; and Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replacing Oyerinmade Matthew in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo.

Rounding out the changes, Abdulazeez Kaka was named as a replacement for Samaila Abdu Suleiman in Kaduna North; Samuel Okezie displaced Chris Nkwonta in Ukwa East/Ukwa West in Abia State; while Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replaced Iduma Igariwey Enwo in Afikpo North/Edda Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State.