The All Progressives Congress has quietly revised its blacklist of Senate candidates. Five aspirants, including former lawmaker Ben Murray-Bruce, have been cleared to contest.
Party spokesperson Felix Morka signed the updated document on Monday. It trimmed the barred list from 47 names down to 44 aspirants.
Murray-Bruce represented Bayelsa East in the upper chamber. He'd been on the initial exclusion list released earlier in the day.
Four other candidates got their names removed without explanation. They were Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue from Anambra North, Gyang Yaya Zi San of Plateau North, Napoleon Binkap Bah from Plateau South, and Usman Ephraim Gar representing Plateau Central.
But the party added two fresh names to the revised compilation. Ibrahim Bala of Nasarawa West now appears marked as "not cleared."
Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, also from Nasarawa West, was listed differently. According to the update, he voluntarily withdrew his candidacy.
APC officials reclassified several other aspirants on the list. Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East switched from "not cleared" to "voluntary withdrawal."
Donald Daunemigita from Bayelsa West received similar reclassification. Garba Musa Mai Doki of Kebbi South was recorded as having defected entirely.
Adam Mouktar Mohammed from Jigawa South West failed to show for screening. His file now reflects this absence.
Many aspirants remained on the exclusion list unchanged. Daniel Effiong Asuquo of Cross River South stayed marked as ineligible.
Marian Nnamaka Ogoh-Ali from Delta North kept her "not cleared" status. Usman J.
Wowo representing the FCT remained disqualified as well.
Kollo B. Jiya of Kwara North and Ajimobi Wasiu Adegboyega from Oyo North also stayed on the list.
Oyukaye Flag Amachree and Banigo Ipalibo, both contesting Rivers West, weren't removed either.
Candidates from Zamfara, Nasarawa, Oyo, Niger, and Taraba states also appeared on the revised compilation. Morka's office stressed commitment to fairness in the primary process.
No official reason was given for any of the adjustments. Party leadership issued no further comment on the decisions.
