The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified 47 senatorial aspirants from participating in its forthcoming Senate primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party announced the development in a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stating that the affected aspirants were “not cleared” following the party’s screening exercise.
According to the APC, the screening was conducted in line with the party’s constitutional provisions, internal guidelines, and electoral procedures.
Among the high-profile politicians denied clearance is former senator and media entrepreneur Ben Murray-Bruce, who sought the APC ticket for Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
Also screened out was former Rivers State Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo, alongside former presidential aspirant Tein Jack-Rich and ex-Rivers Head of Service Tamunobaabo Danagogo in the Rivers West senatorial contest.
In Oyo State, several aspirants loyal to different political blocs were affected, including Wasiu Adegboyega Ajimobi, brother of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, as well as Kolapoboye Daisi and Hameed Afeez Repete.
Other aspirants denied clearance cut across states including Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
Despite releasing the names of the affected aspirants, the APC did not publicly disclose specific reasons for the disqualifications.
The development comes amid mounting internal tensions and political realignments within the ruling party as aspirants jostle for tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.
Party officials have maintained that the screening process is intended to ensure that only candidates who meet constitutional, electoral, and party requirements are allowed to contest in the primaries.
The APC has faced repeated accusations in previous election cycles over alleged selective disqualifications, imposition of candidates, and controversial primary processes that later resulted in legal disputes across several states.