Abia APC Stakeholders Call on Party to Respect Primary Election Results

.Caution against fielding unpopular candidates

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, operating under the Abia‑South APC Vanguard, have appealed to the national leadership of the party to reject any attempt to undermine the outcome of the recent Senatorial Primary election in the state.

They argue that, in addition to reflecting the popular will of the electorate, the APC must nominate a candidate who enjoys broad support across Abia South Senatorial zone in order to defeat the incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in the 2027 election.

They contend that a strong APC contender such as Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, Jnr, is essential to unseat the current Senator representing Abia‑South.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Convener of the Group, Sir Don Ubani, expressed support for the Primary election that saw Hon. Erondu Jnr emerge as the winner.

Ubani noted that Erondu won the Primary held on Monday, 18 May 2026 across the 65 Electoral Wards in the six local government areas of Abia‑South Senatorial District.

The politician claimed that the nearest rival, Prince Paul Ikonne, was absent on the day of the Primary election.

Describing the Primary, Ubani said: “On that day, more than 75 percent of APC members in Abia‑South Senatorial District turned out in large numbers and gave their full support to a young legislator with whom they are very pleased.”

He added that Erondu, Jnr, won decisively and was followed by Dr. Nyerere Anyim Nyerere as the second candidate.

Ubani, a prominent APC leader from Ukwa‑West Local Government Area of Abia‑South Senatorial District, alleged that Prince Ikonne attempted to claim the APC Abia South senatorial ticket without justification.

He urged party leadership not to yield to any pressure that would override the wishes expressed during the transparently held Primary election in Abia South Senatorial zone.

“The truth of the matter is that it will take a very strong candidate of APC like Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, Jnr, to defeat the current Senator representing Abia‑South in the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe,” he said.

“If Prince Paul Ikonne is, by omission or commission, imposed on APC Abia‑South as the candidate of the party, one thing will be clear: the party will lose abysmally and woefully.”

“If there are ‘powerful individuals’ who wish to support Prince Paul Ikonne, they could give him another appointment such as the one he held not long ago, Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA, even if he may not use it to help any other person.”

“Finally, I want to plead with the powers that be that the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has done so much to make APC a very enviable political party in Abia State.”

“Let ambition that has no foundation not be allowed to destroy the party in the state. Hon Erondu Uchenna Erondu, Jnr, is the man the people of Abia‑South want to represent them in the 11th Senate. Let no person stand in his way because he is the peoples’ mandate,” he said.

Justifying his victory, Ubani said that Erondu, Jnr, who represents Obingwa‑West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, is a politician whose liberal disposition and benevolence are unparalleled.

“His record as a philanthropist has earned him the sobriquet ‘Empowerment Master.’ This is a man who has willingly used his personal resources to facilitate the donation of buses, cars, motorcycles, and many other remarkable gifts to the party in both Abia‑South and the state as a whole. Courtesy of Hon. Erondu Jnr, all 65 Ward Chairmen of APC in Abia‑South Senatorial District have brand new motorcycles, while each of the six local government area chairmen of the party in Abia‑South Senatorial District has a vehicle bought and donated by Hon. Erondu Jnr.”

“It must be stated that these special empowerment items were very useful to the Party during the recently concluded Primary Elections as they facilitated effective coordination by the Local Government Area Chairmen and Ward Chairmen.”