The crisis fears rocking the All Progressives Congress in Abia State appear to be easing following the peaceful conduct of the party’s House of Representatives primary elections, which produced several unopposed candidates, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Kalu secured the APC ticket to represent Bende Federal Constituency for a third consecutive term in the House of Representatives, while Onyejeocha emerged as the party’s candidate for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in her bid to return to the National Assembly for a fifth term.
Onyejeocha represented the constituency from 2007 to 2023 before losing the seat to Labour Party lawmaker, Amobi Ogah.
Announcing the results in Umuahia, Chairman of the Abia APC National Assembly Primaries Committee, Erasmus Cishak, said the lawmaker representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Chris Nkwonta, also secured the party’s ticket.
A former federal lawmaker, Uzo Azubuike, won the Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency ticket, positioning himself for a return to the House of Representatives after previously serving under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Other successful aspirants included former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji, who clinched the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South ticket; Uzoma Ihuka for Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South; Udo Alozie for Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo; and Ikenna Nicholas Ukwa for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency.
Cishak praised party members for maintaining peace throughout the exercise and described the process as transparent and credible.
Reacting to the outcome, Kalu described the primaries as rancour-free, noting that party stakeholders had earlier agreed there would be no automatic tickets, insisting aspirants must test their popularity through the process.
Before the primaries, party leaders had expressed concern that the participation of 99 aspirants vying for 36 elective positions ahead of the 2027 elections could trigger internal crisis within the Abia APC.
Meanwhile, loyalists of Siminalayi Fubara seeking APC senatorial tickets in Rivers State suffered major setbacks after failing to meet the party’s screening requirements ahead of the primaries.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt by APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, the party disclosed that Senator Ipalibo Banigo was not cleared to contest for the Rivers West Senatorial District seat.
Also disqualified were former Rivers State Secretary to the Government, Tammy Danagogo, businessman Tein Jack-Rich, and Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Those cleared for the senatorial race included Felix Obuah for Rivers West, Allwell Onyesoh for Rivers South-East, and Barry Mwara.
The APC House of Representatives primaries in Rivers State also produced several winners. Sitting lawmaker Dumnamene Robinson Deekor emerged victorious in Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency after polling 17,073 votes against Israel Lebura Ngbuelo.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, secured the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency ticket.
Other winners included Precious Igwe for Port Harcourt I, Blessing Amadi for Port Harcourt II, Hart Cyril Godwin for Bonny/Degema, Felix Uche Nwaeke for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo, Isobo Solomon for Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru, and Linda Somiari-Steward for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo Federal Constituency.
Others were Solomon Bob for Obua/Odual/Ahoada-East, Victor Obuzor for Ahoada-West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Frederick Apiafi for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, Ozuzum Nwamaka for Etche/Omuma, and Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency.
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