APC Overturns Benue Primaries, Drops Suswam and Others After Appeals
The All Progressives Congress has overturned the results of several National Assembly primary elections in Benue State, replacing former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and several other aspirants following the recommendations of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee. The revised list has already been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party’s final submission for the affected constituencies.
The changes affected two senatorial districts and five House of Representatives constituencies in Benue State, significantly altering the outcome of the primaries conducted in May. Under the revised list, Emmanuel Udende replaced Gabriel Suswam as the APC candidate for Benue North East Senatorial District, while Titus Zam replaced Benjamin Aber for the Benue North West Senatorial District.
Five House of Representatives candidates were also replaced in the final list approved by the party. Dickson Tarkighir emerged for Makurdi/Guma, Austin Achado replaced Terhemba Nongo in Gwer East/Gwer West, Terser Ugbor returned as the candidate for Kwande/Ushongo, Sekav Iyortyom replaced Gideon Inyom in Buruku, while Sesoo Ikpagher secured the ticket for Vandeikya/Konshisha.
According to party documents, the substitutions followed the review of petitions submitted after the primary elections. The National Working Committee approved the recommendations of the Appeal Committee before transmitting the revised candidate list to INEC in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines.
Political observers say the latest decision has reshaped the balance of power within the APC in Benue State. The revisions are widely viewed as strengthening the camp of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, while reversing some of the gains recorded by supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia during the original primary elections.
The development has generated fresh political reactions across Benue as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue. Analysts believe the substitutions could influence internal party dynamics and campaign strategies in the affected constituencies, while attention is expected to shift to how the APC manages reconciliation among aggrieved aspirants ahead of the polls.
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