Abia APC state working committee members adopt Ikoh as consensus guber candidate
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
Majority of the members of the Abia State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Thursday, adopted former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship poll.
The decision followed hours of closed-door consultations involving critical party leaders and a majority of members of the State Working Committee.
The endorsement, seen as a major political breakthrough within the party, was formalised in a resolution signed by 13 out of the 18 members of the State Working Committee including the Secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja; his Deputy, Barrister Benedict Godson; the Deputy Chairman, Chinedu Ihesinulo; and the State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emeka Okorafor.
According to the SWC, the adoption of Ikoh was based on his leadership credentials, political experience, capacity to unify the party, and what they described as his proven ability to reposition Abia State.
They maintained that Abia requires purposeful and visionary leadership at this critical time, insisting that Ikoh possesses the qualities needed to drive the state forward.
Part of the resolution read:
“We, the undersigned leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, after extensive deliberations and consultations, unanimously adopt Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh as the APC consensus governorship candidate for the party’s primary election holding today, May 21, 2026.
“This decision was reached in the overall interest of party unity, electoral victory, and the desire to present a credible, experienced, and widely accepted candidate capable of leading APC to victory in Abia State.”
The development is expected to reshape the political landscape within the Abia APC as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Other signatories include: the State Woman Leader, Mrs Erondu C. C; Treasurer, John Ajuziogu; Legal Adviser, Vigilus Nwankwo; and Youth Leader, Jerry Awa.
The Financial Secretary, NC Ujoumunna; Welfare Secretary, Ebere Nwachukwu; and Auditor, Emmanuel Nwuhiara; were among the signatories.
Confirming the development in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, the State Organising Secretary, Okorafor said the NWC had to endorse Ikoh being the only visible aspirant left after the withdrawal of Mascot Uzor Kalu earlier in the day.
He explained that Kalu’s withdrawal left Ikoh, as the sole governorship candidate of the party candidate.
He said the SWC was not pleased with the sudden appearance of a strange aspirant whom they were not sure is a genuine member of the party, and could not afford to gamble with the party’s ticket.
“We realized we had two candidates until suddenly we saw a new face that was never part of our party,” the organizing secretary said.
“With the other aspirant ( Mascot Kalu) stepping down we believe we now have one candidate. We exercised our democratic rights to adopt him as our sole aspirant for today’s gubernatorial primaries.”
When asked if primary election held in the state, he said he issued appointment letters to party officials to conduct direct primaries across the state, adding that even with a sole candidate, an affirmation exercise was expected to hold.
Asked if the national leadership in Abuja was aware of the decision, he said: “It’s a decision I will communicate to them. It’s our own decision.”
He dismissed suggestions that the party was late in raising concerns about the ‘strange aspirant’, saying it was not too late to speak out.
Meanwhile the state Publicity Secretary Chief Uche Aguoru, in a statement on Thursday announced that the official declaration of results of the party primary elections for the House of Representatives, Senate, House of Assembly, and Governorship positions will take place in the Party Secretariat by 8:00 PM.
However the official announcement of the results have not started as at the time of filling this report.