44 Aspirants Barred as APC Senate Primaries Hit Controversy

ABUJA — The All Progressives Congress disqualified no fewer than 44 senatorial aspirants from participating in its nationwide Senate primaries. The party confirmed the disqualifications even as the exercise produced protests, parallel results, and widespread allegations of manipulation.

APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka released a revised list of disqualified aspirants on Monday. The list initially contained 47 names. However, former Bayelsa East Senator Ben Murray-Bruce was reinstated after initially being barred.

Rivers State recorded one of the highest numbers of disqualified aspirants. Among those barred were politician Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, and former Rivers State Head of Service Tammy Danagogo. The party did not publicly explain the specific reason for each disqualification.

Zamfara State accounted for the largest single bloc of disqualified aspirants on the original list. Several Zamfara aspirants were removed over alleged issues with membership registers and party dues. Some of them have vowed to challenge their exclusions in court.

Protests and Parallel Results

The primary exercise was far from peaceful in several states. In Edo South, two sets of results were announced by different panels. One declared Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama the winner. Another showed Osagie Ize-Iyamu as victorious. Both camps insist their result is authentic.

In Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege rejected his defeat by Ede Dafinone, alleging widespread manipulation. Meanwhile, in Plateau State, thugs had earlier disrupted the House of Representatives primary vote count at a Jos South venue. Security agencies are investigating.

Furthermore, the APC in Ogun State saw a clash between Governor Dapo Abiodun and former Governor Ibikunle Amosun. The two power brokers backed different candidates in multiple senatorial zones. Their rivalry produced some of the most contested results in the southwest.

INEC Watches Closely

INEC is monitoring the APC primary fallout closely. The commission has the authority to reject candidates if it finds that the primary process did not comply with party rules and electoral guidelines. It is expected to scrutinise all disputed results before accepting final candidate lists.

Civil society groups have called on INEC to enforce strict standards. They warn that allowing manipulated primary results to stand sends the wrong message about accountability in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The APC national secretariat said its appeal committee is already receiving petitions from aggrieved aspirants. The party has set a 72-hour window for filing primary appeals. All complaints must be resolved before the May 30 INEC deadline for candidate submission.