JUST IN: Abia APC defies party headquarters, releases separate list of candidates

The Abia chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a separate list of candidates for the 2027 general election, defying the revised list submitted by the party’s national leadership to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement signed by Uche Aguoru, its publicity secretary, the state chapter congratulated what it described as the winners of the party’s governorship and national assembly primaries conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC).

The development comes hours after the APC national headquarters replaced Uchenna Erondu with Paul Ikonne as the party’s senatorial candidate for Abia south and substituted Chris Nkwonta with Samuel Okezie for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency.

However, the Abia APC retained Erondu and Nkwonta on its list of candidates. The state chapter also recognised Eric Oprah as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election. It listed Orji Uzor Kalu, Emeka Atuma and Erondu as the party’s senatorial candidates.

The chapter also recognised Nkwonta, Uzo Azubuike, Udo Alozie, Uzo Ihuka, Chinedum Orji, Benjamin Kalu, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Ikenna Ukwa as the APC’s House of Representatives candidates.

The Abia APC thanked Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the party, and members of the NWC for conducting what it described as a transparent, credible and fair primary election.

“The APC expresses profound appreciation to the National Chairman of our great party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for conducting a transparent, credible, and fair primary election that provided every aspirant with an equal opportunity to participate,” the statement reads.

The chapter urged aspirants who lost the primaries to remain loyal to the party and support its candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.

The conflicting lists have created uncertainty over the APC’s candidates in Abia, particularly for the Abia south Senate seat and the Ukwa East/Ukwa West House of Representatives constituency, where the state chapter and the party’s national leadership are backing different nominees.