The All Progressives Congress (APC) has submitted its final list of National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), removing six senatorial aspirants and 19 House of Representatives candidates following the outcome of its internal appeal process.
The development marks a significant stage in preparations for the 2027 general elections, as political parties race to complete the nomination of candidates before the July 10 deadline set by INEC.
APC Reviews Primary Election Results
According to a letter submitted to INEC and jointly signed by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, the changes were approved after the National Working Committee (NWC) considered recommendations from the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The letter explained that the review was carried out in line with the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and INEC’s nomination guidelines.
The party stated that the revised list represents its final decision on the affected constituencies after examining appeals arising from the recently concluded primary elections.
Six Senatorial Aspirants Removed
Among those reportedly dropped from the final senatorial list is former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam. Former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye was also removed from the party’s approved list.
The affected senatorial constituencies span several states, including Abia, Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Ebonyi, Ondo, Kaduna, Niger and Kwara.
APC Drops 19 House of Representatives Candidates
The revised submission also excludes 19 House of Representatives candidates who had initially emerged victorious during the APC primaries held in May 2026.
The decision followed the review of petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders who challenged aspects of the primary election process.
According to the APC leadership, the review was necessary to ensure that all disputes were addressed before the final nomination of candidates.
Top APC Leaders Receive EC9 Forms
Several prominent APC leaders have received their Candidate Affidavit Forms (EC9), including:
Senate President Godswill Akpabio
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno
Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole
The EC9 form is a mandatory document required by INEC for the nomination of candidates seeking elective office.
Governors Cleared for Senate Race
The APC also confirmed the nomination of four serving governors to contest Senate seats in the 2027 elections. They include:
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara)
Hope Uzodimma (Imo)
Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa)
Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe)
Other notable senatorial candidates include former Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Yero, Shehu Sani, Sunday Katung and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who secured the APC ticket for Kogi Central Senatorial District.
House of Representatives Heavyweights Make Final List
For the House of Representatives, prominent APC figures including Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Mudashiru Obasa and James Faleke were successfully nominated to contest under the party’s platform.
Over 700 Petitions Received
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka disclosed that the party received more than 700 petitions from members dissatisfied with aspects of the primary elections.
He explained that the immediate priority of the party is ensuring that all nominated candidates complete their documentation for submission to INEC rather than publishing the full candidates’ list.
According to him, successful candidates have already received their nomination forms and are completing the necessary documentation for upload to the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal.
INEC Nomination Deadline
INEC opened its Candidate Nomination Portal on June 27 for the submission of presidential and National Assembly candidates. Political parties are expected to complete the upload of Forms EC9, EC9A, EC9B, EC9C, EC9D and EC9E before the portal closes at 6:00 p.m. on July 10.
Before the commencement of the exercise, the electoral commission conducted training for political party officials on the use of the nomination portal to ensure compliance with legal and procedural requirements.
The Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Prof. Ibrahim Sani, emphasized that proper candidate nomination remains one of the most critical stages of Nigeria’s electoral process and urged political parties to strictly comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
What This Means for the 2027 Elections
The APC’s decision to revise its list of National Assembly candidates highlights the importance of internal dispute resolution before the commencement of the general election campaign.
With INEC’s nomination deadline approaching, political parties are expected to finalize all documentation and resolve outstanding issues as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections