By Asuquo Cletus
The All Progressives Congress has disqualified the Cross River State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oden Ewa, from participating in the party’s senatorial primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ewa, who sought to contest for the Cross River Central Senatorial District ticket on the platform of the APC, was listed among the aspirants not cleared by the party’s screening committee.
The APC made the disclosure on Monday in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, following the conclusion of the screening exercise conducted for senatorial aspirants across the country.
According to the party, the screening exercise was carried out in line with established procedures and guidelines, although no specific reasons were given for the disqualification of affected aspirants.
Ewa’s name appeared alongside that of Daniel Effiong Asuquo, who was also disqualified from contesting the Cross River South Senatorial District primary.
The APC said a total of 47 aspirants from different states failed to secure clearance to participate in the senatorial primaries.
Among the notable politicians affected by the exercise is former senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Ben Murray-Bruce, who was also excluded from the race.
Rivers State recorded one of the highest numbers of disqualified aspirants, with four contenders from Rivers West Senatorial District failing to make the list of cleared aspirants.
In Zamfara State, seven aspirants across the Central, North and West senatorial districts were also disqualified.
The development has generated reactions within political circles, particularly in Cross River State, where Ewa is regarded as a prominent figure in the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.
Ewa, currently serves as Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs in Cross River State. He has been actively involved in grassroots mobilisation and political coordination within the APC in the state.
The APC has yet to announce whether the affected aspirants would be given an opportunity to appeal the outcome of the screening exercise.
