By Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary elections, the party’s screening committee has withheld clearance for three prominent senatorial aspirants from Plateau State.
The development, contained in an official APC document titled “List of Senatorial Aspirants Not Cleared,” affects all three senatorial districts in the state and is expected to significantly reshape the political contest ahead of the primaries.
According to the document obtained by reporters, the affected aspirants are:
Plateau North: Gyang Zi SAN
Plateau South: Napoleon Binkap Bah
Plateau Central: Usman Ephraim Gar.
The disqualification of the aspirants has generated fresh political tension across the three senatorial zones.
In Plateau North, the non-clearance of Gyang Zi SAN is expected to alter the dynamics of what is traditionally regarded as one of the state’s most competitive political battlegrounds.
Similarly, in Plateau South, the exclusion of Napoleon Binkap Bah from the race is seen as a major shift in the contest for the APC senatorial ticket in the zone.
Plateau Central also witnessed a political shake-up following the screening committee’s decision to deny clearance to Usman Ephraim Gar, thereby preventing him from participating in the primary election.
Although the APC national secretariat has yet to officially disclose the reasons behind the non-clearance of the aspirants, such decisions are often linked to issues including documentation discrepancies, party loyalty concerns, or non-compliance with stipulated requirements.
The affected aspirants are, however, expected to approach the APC Screening Appeal Committee in an effort to challenge the decision before the conduct of the primary elections.