The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly dropped 19 candidates for the House of Representatives from its final list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. The affected candidates had won the party's primaries in May 2026 but were replaced following recommendations from the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The development was disclosed in a letter to INEC signed by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru. The party cited the report of the Primary Election Appeal Committee as the reason for the changes.
Affected States and Candidates
The 19 candidates dropped come from nine states: Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi. Benue has the highest number of replacements with six candidates, followed by Ondo with five.
In Benue state, Dickson Tarkighir replaces Ikper Chris Terfa for Makurdi/Guma constituency; Sesoo Ikpagher replaces Livinus Tsar Adzor for Vandeikya/Konshisha; Terser Ugbor replaces Kohol Shedrach Iornem for Kwande/Ushongo; Sekav Dzua Iyortyom replaces Gideon Inyom for Buruku; and Austin Asema Achado replaces Nongo David for Gwer East/Gwer West.
In Taraba, Peter Abel Diah replaces Sanusi Mohammed Galadima for Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna. For Niger state, Abubakar Lado replaces Abdullahi Adamu Tanko for Suleja/Tafa/Gurara, and Adamu Suleiman replaces Adamu Usman for Lavun/Edati/Mokwa.
Kwara state sees Raheem Tunji Olawuyi replacing Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi for Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Ero, and Mohammed Mamman replacing Bello Tauheed Abubakar for Edu/Patigi/Moro.
In Ondo, Donald Ojogo replaces Akingboye Leke for Ilaje/Ese-Odo; Festus Olarewaju replaces Rasaq Obe for Idanre; Oluwatimehin Akintomide replaces Kayode Ijalana for Owo/Ose; John Odimayo replaces Olumuyiwa Daramola for Okitipupa/Irele; Michel Olamidotun Akintomide replaces Abiola Makinde for Ondo West/Ondo East; and Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replaces Oyerinmade Matthew for Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo.
Kaduna North sees Abdulazeez Kaka replacing Samaila Abdu Suleiman. In Abia, Samuel Okezie replaces Chris Nkwonta for Ukwa East/Ukwa West. For Ebonyi, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama replaces Iduma Igariwey Enwo for Afikpo North/Edda.
APC's 2027 Election Prospects
The APC is positioning for the 2027 general election with President Bola Tinubu as its presidential candidate. His main challengers are expected to be Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). In the 2023 election, Atiku and Obi came close to Tinubu and challenged the result at the Supreme Court, which dismissed their appeals.
The presidency recently defended Tinubu against criticism from Peter Obi. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Obi was ignorant about Nigeria's power-generating capacity, noting that the problem is not a shortage of gas but other issues.
