APC backtracks, clears Ben Murray-Bruce, four others for senatorial primary

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has revised its earlier list of senatorial aspirants barred from participating in its forthcoming Senate primary elections, removing five names, including former senator Ben Murray-Bruce, in an updated version released on Monday.

The amended list, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, was issued shortly after the initial publication and reduced the number of affected aspirants from 47 to 44. However, the party did not provide any explanation for the changes.

Morka, in the statement, said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) hereby releases an updated list 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.”

Murray-Bruce, who previously represented Bayelsa East in the Senate, was among the most prominent figures on the original list released earlier in the day. His removal from the updated version was not explained.

Others also dropped from the list include Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue (Anambra North), Gyang Yaya Zi San (Plateau North), Napoleon Binkap Bah (Plateau South), and Usman Ephraim Gar (Plateau Central).

The updated list also introduced two additional entries. Ibrahim Bala (Nasarawa West) was listed as not cleared, while Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa West) was recorded as having voluntarily withdrawn.

Several aspirants initially marked as “not cleared” were also reclassified. Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East) and Donald Daunemigita (Bayelsa West) were listed as voluntary withdrawals, while Garba Musa Mai Doki (Kebbi South) was noted as having defected. Adam Mouktar Mohammed (Jigawa South West) was recorded as having failed to appear for screening.

The development has further stirred attention within the party’s internal process, coming amid ongoing scrutiny of APC’s screening and clearance exercises ahead of the Senate primaries.

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