By Sandra Ugwu

The ruling All Progressives Congress has revised its earlier list of senatorial aspirants barred from participating in its Senate primaries, removing five names, including former lawmaker Ben Murray-Bruce.

The updated list, released on Monday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, came shortly after the initial version and reduced the number of affected aspirants from 47 to 44.

In a statement accompanying the revised document, Morka said the party had released an updated list of senatorial aspirants not cleared for participation in its Senate primary elections and urged stakeholders to uphold transparency, orderliness, and the integrity of the process.

Murray-Bruce, who previously represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was among the most notable names on the initial list of disqualified aspirants. However, the party did not provide any explanation for his removal from the updated version or clarify his new status.

Four other aspirants also removed from the earlier list are Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue (Anambra North), Gyang Yaya Zi San (Plateau North), Napoleon Binkap Bah (Plateau South), and Usman Ephraim Gar (Plateau Central).

The APC also added two fresh entries to the revised list. Ibrahim Bala of Nasarawa West was listed among aspirants not cleared, while Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana of the same district was recorded as having voluntarily withdrawn.

In addition, the party revised the status of some aspirants previously categorised as “not cleared.” Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East and Donald Daunemigita of Bayelsa West were redesignated as voluntary withdrawals. Garba Musa Mai Doki of Kebbi South was listed as having defected, while Adam Mouktar Mohammed of Jigawa South West was recorded as having failed to appear for screening.

The development marks a swift reversal by the APC amid ongoing preparations for its Senate primary elections.