Abia APC Assures Credible and Transparent Primaries, Vows to Sweep All Elective Positions

By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu On May 14, 2026

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured all aspirants and party faithful of a transparent, fair, and credible primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections, while expressing confidence that the party would emerge victorious in all elective positions across the state.

The assurance was given during the APC Pre-Primary Election Stakeholders’ Engagement held at the new APC Secretariat in Umuahia.

Speaking during the event, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and leader of the APC in Abia State, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, expressed satisfaction with the level of unity and strength currently being experienced within the party..

According to him, the vision of building a formidable APC structure in Abia State over the past three years has been successfully achieved.

“What we set out to do three years ago in building our great party has been achieved. When we cough in Abia, they shake because our party is very strong in all ramifications,” he stated.

He further declared that the APC was fully prepared to win all elective positions in the state, from the State House of Assembly to the governorship seat.

Kalu dismissed speculations about the existence of an automatic ticket or a prepared list of preferred candidates, insisting that every aspirant would participate fully in the primary election process.

“There is no automatic ticket for anybody in this party. In fact, there is no prepared list anywhere at all. All the candidates will slug it out during the primary election, and only the winner and best candidate will fly the party’s ticket,” he said.

He explained that the APC constitution provides two methods for selecting candidates consensus and direct primaries stressing that no candidate would be imposed on the party.

“We are not going to impose any candidate. After the primaries, the party must remain united so that all the efforts we have put into building the APC will not become fruitless,” he added.

The Deputy Speaker also encouraged aspirants not to lose hope if they do not secure the party’s ticket, citing his personal political journey as an example of perseverance.

“I contested for 17 years before I eventually secured the ticket to the House of Representatives, and today I am the Deputy Speaker,”

Earlier in his remarks, the Abia APC State Chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, commended the growing unity within the party, noting that the large number of aspirants contesting various positions was evidence of the party’s increasing strength.

He maintained that the APC would unseat Governor Alex Otti in 2027, accusing his administration of failing to grant judicial and local government autonomy while operating government affairs from his private residence.

Speaking on the state of the party, Chukwu said the APC had witnessed unprecedented unity under the current leadership.

“The quality of men in APC is truly commendable. Since we assumed leadership, we have been able to unify the party like never before,” he said.

He described the successful screening of aspirants and the sale of nomination forms without rancour as another major achievement for the party.
He also praised the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the pre-primary engagement and promised that the new APC Secretariat in Umuahia would soon be fully completed.

Chukwu further expressed confidence that the APC would produce the next governor of Abia State in 2027, stressing that elections are won at the grassroots and not on social media.

“Elections are not won on social media but at the polling units, and APC has men on the ground ready to defend their votes,” he stated

Similarly, the Senator representing Abia North and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, dismissed rumours of crisis or leadership tussle between himself and the Deputy Speaker over who leads the party in the state.
He maintained that the APC remained united and determined to win all elective positions in the state, including securing the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The former state governor added that the transparent primary election process would produce capable candidates who would deliver victory for the party across the state.

Also speaking, the Abia APC State Organising Secretary, Barrister Emeka Okoroafor, disclosed that 64 aspirants purchased nomination forms for various elective positions, including governorship, senate, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly seats.
According to him, 63 aspirants were successfully screened, while one aspirant was disqualified based on party membership issues.
He gave the breakdown of aspirants as follows:
Governorship – 3 aspirants
Senate – 9 aspirants
House of Representatives – 24 aspirants
State House of Assembly – 28 aspirants

Okoroafor announced that the party would adopt direct primaries for the election of candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

He explained that only financially up-to-date party members would be eligible to vote during the primaries and advised aspirants to appoint agents in their respective wards during the exercise.

“It is going to be a fair primary devoid of intimidation. We do not have any list anywhere for preferred candidates. Every aspirant will slug it out during the primary election,” he said.

He further disclosed that the State Working Committee had approved an open ballot voting system where votes would be counted openly for everyone to see.

According to him, over N200 million would be required to conduct all the primary elections, from the governorship to the State House of Assembly.

In his remarks, the National Welfare Secretary of the Abia APC, Donatus Nwankpa, assured party members that the party was committed to conducting transparent and unbiased primaries capable of producing credible candidates for the general elections.

Speaking with journalists after the engagement, APC governorship aspirant, Chief Eric Opah, expressed confidence in the ability of the party leadership to conduct a credible and transparent primary election that would produce only the best and most popular candidates.

On his vision for Abia State, Opah said his priorities include employment creation, infrastructural development, and transforming Aba into an industrial hub and one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa.

Other aspirants who spoke separately with journalists, including Hon. Uchenna Erondu Jr a candidate for the Abia South Senatorial race, Hon. Lilian Chinasa Obenwa a candidate for Isuikwuato Umunneochi federal constituency, and Dr. Mary Ikokwu frontline candidate for the Ohafia Arochukwu federal constituency, all expressed confidence in the party’s ability to conduct a transparent and credible primary election process.

They also stressed that regardless of the outcome of the primaries, the unity of the APC remained paramount, pledging to support whoever emerges as the party’s flag bearer.