APC makes U-Turn, adds Ben Murray-Bruce to list of cleared aspirants

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has revised its list of senatorial aspirants barred from participating in the party’s Senate primary elections, removing the names of five aspirants, including former senator Ben Murray-Bruce. The updated list, signed by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, reduced the number of affected aspirants from 47 to 44. In a […]

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has revised its list of senatorial aspirants barred from participating in the party’s Senate primary elections, removing the names of five aspirants, including former senator Ben Murray-Bruce.

The updated list, signed by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, reduced the number of affected aspirants from 47 to 44.

In a statement accompanying the revised list, Morka said the APC was releasing an updated compilation of senatorial aspirants not cleared to participate in the party’s Senate primary elections.

“The APC urges all stakeholders to uphold transparency, orderliness, and the integrity of the ongoing Primary Election process,” the statement read.

Murray-Bruce, who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the Senate, had appeared on the initial list issued earlier on Monday. However, his name was omitted from the updated version without any official explanation from the party.

Also removed from the revised list were Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue (Anambra North), Gyang Yaya Zi San (Plateau North), Napoleon Binkap Bah (Plateau South), and Usman Ephraim Gar (Plateau Central).

The APC also added two new names to the updated list. Ibrahim Bala of Nasarawa West was listed as “not cleared,” while Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, also from Nasarawa West, was recorded as having voluntarily withdrawn from the race.

In addition, the party adjusted the status of some aspirants who had earlier been marked as “not cleared.”

Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East and Donald Daunemigita of Bayelsa West were reclassified as having voluntarily withdrawn, while Garba Musa Mai Doki of Kebbi South was listed as having defected from the party.

Adam Mouktar Mohammed of Jigawa South West was also recorded as having failed to appear for screening.

Other aspirants retained on the updated list as “not cleared” include Daniel Effiong Asuquo (Cross River South), Marian Nnamaka Ogoh-Ali (Delta North), Usman J. Wowo (FCT), Kollo B. Jiya (Kwara North), Ajimobi Wasiu Adegboyega (Oyo North), Oyukaye Flag Amachree (Rivers West), Banigo Ipalibo (Rivers West), and several aspirants from Zamfara, Nasarawa, Oyo, Niger, and Taraba states.

The APC did not provide reasons for the latest adjustments to the list.