Fresh details have emerged on why the All Progressives Congress (APC) replaced several candidates who had earlier been declared winners of the party’s National Assembly primary elections held between April and May.
Political parties conducted their primaries from April 23 to May 30, after which successful aspirants were announced across the country. However, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released access codes to political parties on Friday to begin uploading candidates’ names, many aspirants discovered that their names had been removed and replaced on the party’s final list.
The substitutions affected Senate and House of Representatives candidates in at least nine states — Abia, Benue, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo and Taraba — triggering protests, allegations of political manipulation and renewed internal crises within the ruling party.
For the Senate, the changes saw Senator Sunday Karimi replace Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West; Prince Paul Ikonne replace Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu in Abia South; Emmanuel Memga Udende replace former Benue governor Gabriel Suswam in Benue North-East; Titus Tartenger Zam replace Benjamin T. Aber in Benue North-West; Shuaibu Isa Lau replace Mohammed Kabir Bello in Taraba North; Adeniyi Adegbonmire replace Taiwo Fasoranti in Ondo Central; and Olajide Ipinsagba replace Gbenga Elegbeleye in Ondo North.
Several House of Representatives candidates were also substituted in Benue, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi States.
APC: Appeal Process Led to Substitutions
The APC has defended the changes, insisting they were not arbitrary but followed the review of petitions filed after the primaries.
In a letter to INEC signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, the party said the final list reflected recommendations made by its Primary Election Appeal Committee and subsequently approved by the National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the party, more than 700 petitions were received from aggrieved aspirants nationwide after the primaries.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said every petition was thoroughly scrutinised before the final decisions were reached.
“For those aggrieved, we took our time to undertake a very thorough review of all the petitions that came after the primaries. There were over 700 petitions that were received and properly vetted,” Morka said.
He added that the candidates whose names were submitted to INEC either emerged without any challenge during the primaries or were confirmed after the appeal process.
Aspirants Allege Political Interference
Despite the party’s explanation, many affected aspirants insist the substitutions were politically motivated.
Some of those who spoke anonymously alleged that influential party leaders and powerful office holders exploited the period between the primaries and the submission of candidates’ names to INEC to replace winners with their preferred aspirants.
The developments have intensified internal disputes in several APC-controlled states, with different factions accusing one another of hijacking the nomination process.
Kwara Crisis Deepens
The controversy has further exposed divisions within the APC in Kwara State.
Before the substitutions became public, 14 prominent party stakeholders, including serving senators, former governorship aspirants and senior party leaders, had appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to review the outcome of the party’s governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly primaries.
The stakeholders alleged that some candidates were declared winners without proper elections, while others who legitimately won were later replaced.
Political observers say the crisis reflects the continued fragmentation of the coalition that delivered the APC’s landmark “O To Ge” victory in 2019, ending the long dominance of the Saraki political structure in the state.
The disagreements have also fuelled tensions between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and several influential party figures, including Senator Saliu Mustapha, whose supporters argue that denying him both the governorship ticket and another Senate term would effectively end his political career.
The Kaiama Development Association (KDA) also rejected the reported substitution of Saidu Baba Ahmed as the APC candidate for Kaiama/Baruten Federal Constituency, describing the process as lacking consultation with party stakeholders and community leaders.
Kaduna: Governor’s Ally Replaced
In Kaduna State, Samaila Audu Sulaiman, widely regarded as Governor Uba Sani’s preferred candidate for Kaduna North Senatorial District, was replaced by Abdulazeez Kaka.
Kaka is considered a close associate of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
His emergence surprised many party members, as he was reportedly the only candidate backed by Governor Uba Sani whose name was substituted.
Benue: Alia-Akume Rivalry Resurfaces
In Benue, party members believe the substitutions reflected efforts by the APC leadership to balance the competing interests of Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who had initially secured the APC ticket for Benue North-East Senatorial District after defecting from the PDP, was replaced by incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende, an ally of Akume.
The reversal followed petitions challenging the conduct of the primaries and effectively restored candidates believed to be aligned with the SGF.
However, Suswam’s media aide, Bede Bartholomew, dismissed reports that his principal had been replaced, insisting no official communication had been received from the APC national headquarters.
Ondo: Appeal Committee Review Alters Outcome
Ondo State recorded some of the most extensive changes.
Following the party’s National Assembly primaries, several unsuccessful aspirants petitioned the APC national leadership, alleging that elections were not conducted in parts of the state.
Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, representing Ondo Central, also complained that violence and intimidation marred the exercise in several areas.
After reviewing the petitions, the APC Appeal Committee recommended changes, which were adopted by the National Working Committee before the final list was submitted to INEC.
The revised list has since sparked fresh protests.
Chairmen of the 18 local government councils in Ondo, under the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), rejected the final list and appealed directly to President Tinubu to intervene, insisting the names submitted did not reflect the outcome of the primaries.
Experts Condemn Candidate Substitutions
Political analysts have criticised the APC’s decision, warning that post-primary substitutions undermine internal democracy and weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Professor Abubakar Kari described the development as legally questionable and inconsistent with democratic principles.
“It is a very controversial decision and I think it is also of doubtful legality. More importantly, it negates the fundamental tenets of democracy because party primaries are part of the electoral process,” he said.
Professor Saleh Dauda described the substitutions as an act of impunity, arguing that any concerns about aspirants’ eligibility should have been resolved before the primaries rather than after candidates had emerged.
“It shows impunity on the part of the party. There is no moral justification for allowing primaries to take place and then changing candidates afterwards,” he said.
Constitutional lawyer Barrister Umar Usman Danbaito also questioned the legality of replacing candidates after valid primaries, arguing that Supreme Court decisions have significantly restricted political parties’ powers to arbitrarily substitute candidates.
As discontent grows across several states, analysts warn that the disputes could deepen internal divisions within the APC and pose fresh challenges as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
