2027: APC Submits Candidates’ List To INEC, Upholds Reps, Senators’ Appeals

By Ademu Idakwo, Helen Onyemowo Foster, Abuja, Aza Msue, Makurdi AND Damilola Origbemisuyi, Akure

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced the submission of its candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general election, reinstating the candidature of seven Ondo House of Represenative members and two Senators.
Besides Ondo, it also upheld the candidacy appeal of other party members seeking federal legislative seats in Benue, Abia, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Kogi.

A list of candidates for Senate and House of Representatives seats, seen by LEADERSHIP, was contained in a letter jointly signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru. The letter, dated June 29, 2026, was addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Josh Amupitan.

The list, covering seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies, followed the conclusion of the party’s appeals arising from its primary elections.

Meanwhile, INEC yesterday told LEADERSHIP that it had granted access codes to nine political parties to enable them to upload the names of their candidates for the 2027 general elections.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), among others.

The candidates are expected to contest the offices of President, governor, senator and member of the House of Representatives across the country, except in Kogi and Osun states, which operate off-cycle governorship elections.

APC NWC Upholds Appeals, Reinstates 7 Ondo Reps, 2 Senators

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) reshuffled its National Assembly tickets in Ondo State, replacing eight candidates who initially emerged from the party’s primary elections after upholding petitions filed by aggrieved aspirants.

The substitutions were contained in a letter dated June 29, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The letter, jointly signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, stated that the revised list followed the consideration and approval of reports submitted by the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committees. It added that the substitutions were made in accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines governing party nominations.

The review significantly altered the political landscape in Ondo State, with two of the party’s three senatorial candidates and six House of Representatives candidates losing their tickets after the appeals process.

For the Senate, the NWC replaced Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti with Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) as the APC candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District. In Ondo North, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba was restored as the party’s candidate, replacing Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

However, the Ondo South Senatorial District remained unchanged, with former APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, retaining the party’s ticket.

The changes were even more extensive in the House of Representatives, where all six constituencies affected by the appeals witnessed fresh substitutions.

In Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, former Information Commissioner, Hon. Donald K. Ojogo, replaced Mr. Akingboye Leke. Hon. Festus Olarewaju Akingbaso emerged as the candidate for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, replacing Hon. Rasaq Obe.

For Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, the NWC restored former lawmaker, Hon. Dr. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, in place of Hon. Kayode Adejana. Similarly, Hon. Okunjimi John Odimayo replaced Hon. Olumuyiwa Daramola in Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.

Also, Dr. Abiola Makinde lost the APC ticket for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency to Hon. Dr. Michael Olamidotun Akintomide, while Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye replaced Oyerinmade Matthew as the party’s candidate for Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.

Despite the extensive changes, four candidates retained their tickets after the review. They are Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke (Ondo South Senatorial District), Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero (Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency), Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko South East/Akoko South West Federal Constituency), and Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji, who remains the APC candidate for Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency and the only female among the party’s National Assembly flag bearers in the state.

Reacting, the member representing Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, Hon. Donald Ojogo, said his emergence was “not a personal triumph” but “the consecration of a mandate that belongs, first and always, to the people whose overwhelming support made this moment possible.”

He thanked the people of Ilaje, Ijaw Apoi and Arogbo Ijaw for their confidence in him and pledged to repay their trust through quality representation.

The lawmaker said the outcome of the primary reflected the unity within the constituency and urged party members to sustain the spirit of reconciliation.

“There is no loser in this outcome. The party’s ticket is our collective heritage. This victory belongs to all of us, and to the APC in equal measure. Our party won,” he stated.

Ojogo also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their leadership and support. He urged his supporters to celebrate with restraint and avoid actions capable of undermining reconciliation within the party.

He further called on APC members to unite ahead of the general election, stressing that the party’s collective interest should take precedence over individual ambitions.

“Our primary assignment is to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secures a landslide victory in Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency and across Ondo State in the 2027 general election,” he said.

In Benue State, loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, secured several senatorial and House of Representatives tickets in the final APC list forwarded to INEC, displacing aspirants believed to be aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia.

For instance, in Benue North-West Senatorial District, Senator Gabriel Suswam was replaced by Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende. In Benue North-East Senatorial District, Mr. Benjamin T. Aber was replaced by Senator Titus Tartenget Zam.

Senator Zam, one of the beneficiaries, said the party’s Appeal Committee upheld his petition and restored what he described as his rightful mandate after alleged irregularities during the primary process.

In Kogi West Senatorial District, Aro Samuel Bamidele was replaced by Senator Sunday Karimi. In Abia South, Erondu Erondu was replaced by Prince Paul Ikonne, while in Taraba North, Mohammed Bello was replaced by Senator Shuibu Isa.

In Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Hon. Samaila Abdu Suleiman was replaced by Abdulazeez Kaka. In Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Chris Nkwonta was replaced by Barr. Samuel Okezie. In Afikpo North/Edda Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Iduma also emerged as the replacement.

The exercise in Ondo State led to a peaceful protest by APC women and youths in Akure, the state capital, over the alleged alteration of the party’s Senate and House of Representatives primary results.

The protesters demanded the release of what they described as the authentic candidates’ list, insisting that individuals who did not participate in the primaries had been inserted into the final compilation.

However, another group, the Ondo APC Progressive Minds Alliance, defended the National Working Committee’s review of the primaries, arguing that due process was followed and that the changes were necessary to protect the integrity of the exercise.

INEC Grants APC, PDP, ADC, NDC, Others Access Codes

A senior INEC official, who spoke with LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity on Monday, confirmed that the NDC was among the parties granted access to the portal, dismissing reports that the party had been denied the necessary credentials.

“It is misinformation to suggest that the NDC was denied an access code to upload its candidates to the INEC portal,” the official said.

“The commission has no reason whatsoever to deny any registered political party access to the platform. I can confirm on good authority that the NDC was among the parties that received their access codes to upload the names of their candidates.”

The clarification followed claims by officials of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which has been embroiled in a legal dispute over moves to deregister the party.

According to media reports, an NDC official, Osa Director, alleged that the party approached INEC to obtain the access code but was told that the commission would get back to it.

“We approached INEC to collect the access code to upload the names of our candidates to the INEC portal. They told us that they would get back to us,” he was quoted as saying.

However, the INEC source maintained that the commission had treated all eligible political parties fairly and transparently, adding that more parties were expected to receive access before the close of business on Monday.

The official disclosed that the number of parties granted access codes could rise to 13 by the end of the day.

He urged Nigerians to disregard rumours suggesting that certain political parties would be barred from accessing the commission’s candidate nomination portal, stressing that INEC remained committed to providing a level playing field for all participants in the 2027 electoral process.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party confirmed that it had commenced uploading the names of its candidates nationwide.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, told LEADERSHIP that state chapters had been directed to submit final lists for verification and upload to avoid last-minute challenges.

“We are not leaving anything to chance this time. The portal is open, and we have started the process to ensure all our candidates are properly captured,” he said.

INEC has continued to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led leadership of the party following court pronouncements and has insisted that it will only interface with leaderships recognised by law.

However, the candidate upload process has also intensified controversies arising from party primaries.

The unfolding developments underscore the high political stakes ahead of the 2027 elections, with political parties racing to beat INEC’s deadline while struggling to resolve internal disputes that could shape their fortunes at the polls.