ABUJA/Nigeria: The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly forwarded the names of former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and Ede Dafinone to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s senatorial candidates for Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the trio’s nomination forms were among the documents transmitted to the electoral commission following the conclusion of the party’s primary election appeal process.
A senior party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintained that Okowa’s emergence as the APC candidate for Delta North was never in doubt, insisting that the former governor secured an overwhelming victory during the party’s primary election.
“I can convincingly tell you that Okowa’s name has been submitted. It was clear to everyone that he won the primary, and when the Primary Election Appeal Committee reviewed the evidence, there was no basis to overturn the outcome because his victory was overwhelming,” the source said.
The source added that unlike developments in several other states where disputes trailed the APC primaries, Delta State recorded no controversy over the party’s senatorial candidates.
“You can see the stories trending about some states. Delta was not included because there was no dispute whatsoever regarding the candidates that emerged from the party’s primaries,” the source added.
The development comes amid reports that the APC national leadership has concluded its review of appeals arising from the primary elections, effectively shutting the door against further attempts by aggrieved aspirants to alter the outcome of the exercise.
According to media reports, the party also made significant adjustments to its list of candidates in several states. The reports indicated that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, former member of the House of Representatives, Gbenga Elegbeleye, and five other senatorial candidates were dropped from the final list submitted to INEC.
The reports further stated that 19 House of Representatives candidates who emerged from the party’s May primaries were replaced following the decisions of the Primary Election Appeal Committee. States reportedly affected by the changes include Kogi State, Abia State, Benue State, Taraba State, Ondo State, Niger State, Kwara State, Kaduna State and Ebonyi State.
In a correspondence to INEC reportedly signed by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, the party explained that the adjustments were based on the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The letter, titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” stated that the National Working Committee reviewed and approved the committee’s recommendations as the party’s final position on the affected constituencies.
It added that, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and INEC’s regulations and guidelines, the approved list of candidates for seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies had been formally transmitted to the electoral commission for its records and necessary action.
