Former senator who represented Bayelsa East, Ben Murray Bruce, has been disqualified from contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries currently being held across the country.
Bruce, along 47 senatorial aspirants were barred from participating in the senate primary elections, per a statement ssued on Monday by Felix Morka, APC national publicity secretary.
Morka said the screening exercise was conducted by the party’s screening committees in line with established procedures and guidelines.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) hereby releases the list of Senatorial aspirants not cleared to participate in the Party’s Senate Primary Elections,” the statement reads.
“The screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in accordance with established procedures and guidelines.”
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Among those affected are three serving senators — Benson Agadaga, senator representing Bayelsa east; Garba Maidoki, Kebbi south senator; and Banigo Ipalibo, senator representing Rivers west.
Maidoki, however, resigned his membership of the APC in a letter dated May 14, and addressed to the APC ward chairman in Rafin Zuru ward, Zuru LGA of Kebbi.
Among former senators affected were Ben Murray-Bruce from Bayelsa east senatorial district and Usman Wowo from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Other prominent names on the list include Tamunobaabo Danagogo, Jack-Rich Tein, and Ojukaye Amachree from Rivers west senatorial district.
Danagogo is a former secretary to the Rivers state government; Jack-Rich Tein, a former APC presidential aspirant in the 2023 elections, and Ojukaye Amachree, a former director of energy security in the office of the national security adviser (ONSA).
Ajimobi Wasiu Adegboyega, Kolapoboye Kola Daisi, and Ademola Wasiu Alli were also listed among aspirants not cleared from Oyo state.
The list cuts across Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, FCT, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.
The APC did not state the reasons for the disqualification of the aspirants.
The ruling party had fixed May 18 for its senate primary poll ahead of the 2027 general election.