Stakeholders seek review of Abia central senatorial primary

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia Central Senatorial District have called on the national leadership of the party to investigate the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary election in the zone and review its outcome where necessary. In a petition addressed to the APC leadership, the stakeholders expressed concerns over the conduct […]

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia Central Senatorial District have called on the national leadership of the party to investigate the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary election in the zone and review its outcome where necessary.

In a petition addressed to the APC leadership, the stakeholders expressed concerns over the conduct of the exercise and urged the party to examine their complaints in the interest of internal democracy and party unity.

The petition, reportedly signed by stakeholders including Chief Uche Onyejekwe and Chief (Mrs.) Ego Nwamuo, stated that party members had welcomed the adoption of the direct primary option, believing it would provide an opportunity for wider participation in the selection of the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.

According to the petitioners, the process did not meet their expectations.

“However, we regret to inform you that the party lost a golden opportunity to advertise its commitment to internal democracy and citizen inclusivity,” they stated.

The stakeholders appealed to the APC leadership to investigate their concerns regarding the conduct of the primary election.

“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly appeal to your good offices to investigate the breach of process and illegal exclusion of party faithful in the Abia Central Senatorial Primary Election of May 18, 2026,” the petition read.

They added: “We are confident that a diligent investigation of this claim will warrant the review of the outcome of the primary and a repeat of the process in areas with no evidence of public participation.”

One of the stakeholders, while recounting events surrounding the exercise, alleged that party members gathered in several wards but did not witness voting activities.

The stakeholder further claimed that officials expected to supervise the exercise were absent from some locations and expressed concern over the results subsequently announced.

“We are convinced and make bold to say that there was predetermined outcome from the beginning, given that figures allegedly written and allocated behind closed doors,” the stakeholder said.

The petitioners also questioned the conduct of the process in several wards and local government areas within the senatorial district.

“It was surprising that such figures could be allocated when it was quite evident that there was no semblance of election in most wards,” the stakeholder added.

The group urged the APC leadership to verify all aspects of the exercise and address the concerns raised by party members.

“We humbly invite the National Leadership of our great party to cross check if any Thomas Nkoro was sent to announce results of a primary election that did not hold,” the petition stated.

The stakeholders said party members from several wards were prepared to provide information regarding their experience during the primary exercise.

They called on the APC leadership to thoroughly review the issues raised in the petition and take appropriate steps to strengthen confidence in the party’s internal processes.