Former Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has reportedly secured his place on the All Progressives Congress (APC) final list of senatorial candidates for the 2027 general elections following the conclusion of the party’s internal appeals process.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC has transmitted the approved list of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with Okowa’s name reportedly included as the party’s candidate for Delta North Senatorial District.
A party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the outcome reflected the decision reached after the APC Primary Election Appeal Committee reviewed petitions arising from the party’s primary elections.
“Okowa’s name has been submitted. It was evident during the appeal process that he emerged victorious in the primary election. The committee examined the available evidence and affirmed the result,” the source said.»
The source further noted that Delta State was absent from the list of states where disputes over senatorial nominations persisted, suggesting that the party’s leadership accepted the appeal committee’s findings on the state without controversy.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the APC has concluded the process of finalising its nominations nationwide, effectively shutting the door on further changes by aggrieved aspirants.
According to Daily Sun, the party removed several senatorial and House of Representatives candidates from its final submission to INEC after reviewing the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The report stated that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye, and five other senatorial candidates were omitted from the final list submitted to the electoral commission.
It further revealed that 19 House of Representatives candidates who had emerged from the party’s primary elections were also replaced. States reportedly affected by the changes include Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
In a letter addressed to INEC and jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, the party explained that the adjustments were made following the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The correspondence, titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” stated that the National Working Committee had reviewed and approved the appeal committee’s recommendations as the party’s final position on the affected constituencies.
The letter added that the approved list was forwarded to INEC in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and the commission’s regulations and guidelines for necessary action.
