The All Progressives Congress has released a list of 47 aspirants barred from contesting its senatorial primaries ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, with Ben Murray-Bruce among the most prominent names.

According to PUNCH, the party announced the disqualifications on Monday in a statement signed by Felix Morka, saying the screening was carried out under its established procedures and guidelines. The party did not state why the affected aspirants were screened out.

The exclusion of Murray-Bruce, who previously represented Bayelsa State East in the Senate, drew attention alongside fellow Bayelsa aspirant Benson Agadaga, who also failed clearance.

Rivers State recorded the highest number of disqualified hopefuls in a single district, with four from Rivers West: Oyukaye Flag Amachree, Tamunobaabo Danagogo, Tein Jack-Rich and Ipalibo Banigo.

Zamfara State also featured heavily, with seven aspirants from its Central, North and West senatorial districts not cleared by the party’s screening panel.

Other states affected include Oyo State, Niger State, Plateau State, Adamawa State, Kwara State and the Federal Capital Territory, reflecting widespread exclusions across multiple regions.

The APC’s screening comes as political parties begin internal contests to select candidates for the 2027 polls, with the Senate races already generating intense competition in several states.