Politics
2027: APC’s “Glorious” March Toward Political Doom in Abia
THE adage that pride goes before a fall may have caught up with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded Party Primaries in Abia state as the party displays arrogance, impunity and sense of unguarded pride which according to the adage ( …goes before a fall) Hiding under the cloak of a ruling party at the national level, the APC merchants may have actually dug a pit of hell for the party in Abia state where they aught to have deployed their first eleven.
Undoubtedly, APC story in Abia state as to the recent primaries could be likened to the arithmetic presentation known as ” improper fraction” where the smaller number carries the bigger number on its head thereby carrying unbearable load that is capable of breaking it’s spine. One wonders whether any sane person can prefer the least to the highest.
THE CAUSE OF THE MATTER
The APC in Abia state conducted their primaries in the Month of May 2026.The party at the National Level sent their representatives to the State to conduct the exercise. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also present, monitored and authenticated the exercise.
Few weeks after the exercise, it was later learned that the APC had set up a kangaroo Primaries Election Appeal Committee at Abuja and upturned the entire exercise and substituted genuinely elected candidates of the party from the Abia South Senatorial Zone of the state with names that came distance last according the results produced by the Primaries.
The Abia South Senatorial Primaries Election was won by Hon. Erondu Junior Erondu while that of Ukwa Federal Constituency was duly won by Hon. Chris Nkwonta, the incumbent member representing the constituency. The APC brazenly substituted the duo with Prince Paul Ikonne and Sam Nwogu. What a daylight goof by the leaders of the APC.
What could have caused this. The Primaries Appeal Committee of the APC conducted their mockery exercise without even hearing from the duo that were said to have been substituted. This was the beginning of the suspicions that there must be an unseen hand remotely involved.
Up till now, no known reason has been offered for the substitution of Hon Erondu and Hon Nkwonta. It is on record that the duo of Ikonne and Nwogu never featured in any of the congresses of the party in the state from the ward to the State level only to emerge from the blues to become candidates of the Party. What an impending disaster if the party allows this rubbish to fly . Of course that would be the party’s end as it has never been known to have won any election in that zone but had always ended distance 4th.
The life APC is enjoying in the Abia South Senatorial Zone today is the cross- carpeting of Hon. Chris Nkwonta who joined the party from the PDP after some months in the Green Chambers and the latest entrant ,Hon. Erondu also from the PDP. There is no APC in Abia South Senatorial Zone without Nkwonta and Erondu and other political parties have been in early jubilations praying that the duo are denied the Party’s ticket as it is already uhuru for them.
Hon. Nkwonta, since he joined the APC has single handedly bankrolled the party at the zone building structures and welcoming multitudes into the party and many have believed and followed him into the party because of the enormous love, support , good will he enjoys amongst his people. There is no doubt that Hon Chris Nkwonta is the most cherished and loved politician in Ukwa land because of his generosity, kindness, open door policy which has impacted immensely on his people even before his foray into politics.
Hardly will one go into any community in Ukwa land that you will not hear his positive testimonies from widows, Youths, adults and that has made him a household name in Ukwa land and as such has also caught the eyes of his envious negligible political opponents scared of his prominence and rising profile. A successful business man who has ever said it that he was in politics to make a difference and serve his people. And within the past three years in the Green Chambers, the difference is clear and shows in all corners of Ukwa land.
BUT WHO ARE THESE MISCHIEVMAKERS IN APC?
Certainly, there are top ranking individuals within and outside the party in the state alleged to be behind this plot to deny elected party candidates their tickets and thereby drag the party into colossal failure, doom and darkness in the state.
Chief Paul Ikonne and Sam Nwogu are said to be members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a pro President Tinubu group with the lmo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma as their leader. The group had been in rival conflict with the APC leadership in the state headed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu. The cold war between the two APC Leaders in the South East is so conspicuous and is entrenched strongly in Abia APC. Both Camps produced candidates for all the elective positions in Abia state ,State House of Assembly, the National Assembly and the Governorship position. It has remained strong rumours in the state that followers of the lmo state Governor had in different fora boasted that Governor Hope Uzodinma will install the next Government in Abia state.
But this is exactly what is playing out in Abia South Senatorial Zone of the APC as candidates of the Imo state Governor continue to lay claim to a candidacy they lost at the Primaries insisting that the matter has been settled at the National Headquarters of the party at Abuja. There is obvious truth in their claim and glaring collaboration with leaders of the APC at the National Level.
If not, one continues to wonder the rush by the leaders of the APC at the National Level to conduct a kangaroo Appeal Panel Committee and quick substitutions and submission of lists to the INEC.
So ridiculous that an Appeal committee was set up simultaneously as the primary election committee was being set up. The appeal committee sat and cleared Hon Erondu and Hon Nkwonta but the NWC decided to go contrary to the report of the appeal committee. Obvious Confusions and suspicious of a hidden motive.
The APC at the state level had through the state Chairman, Hon Chijioke Chukwu recently in a press conference confirmed and affirmed the candidacy of Hon Erondu and Hon. Nkwonta assuring that they remain the party’s authentic candidates for 2027 Elections.
The people of Ukwa Federal Constituency of the APC also recently held a press conference aligning with the decision of the party at the state level.
In a communique recently released after an enlarged stakeholders of the APC in Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs indisputably reaffirmed the candidacy of Hon. Chris Nkwonta.
The party leaders said “As the countdown to the 2027 general elections commences, the party has firmly established that Hon. Nkwonta stands as the rightful and duly nominated flagbearer for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, a fact borne out of a resolute commitment to democratic integrity and transparency”
“The meeting was held at the Ukwa-East Party Secretariat in Akwete. The meeting veritably saw the convergence of vital constituents: the executives of APC at the LGA level, ward chairmen, youth leaders, women leaders, ward secretaries and influential senior stakeholders hailing from both Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs. Together, a collective voice was forged which resonated with clarity and purpose.
The communiqué bore the signatures of figures including Hon. Chiwuike Ekeke – Chairman of the APC in Ukwa East LGA, Hon. Success Enyinnaya – Chairman of the APC in Ukwa West LGA, Mr. Darlington Iwor – Secretary Ukwa East and Sir Joe Onyedi-Magnus – Secretary Ukwa West. Each signature, remains a will to the unity and steadfast support for Hon. Nkwonta’s candidacy”
“The purpose of this significant gathering was to confront what the party leadership deemed as a plethora of misleading narratives circulating within the vast realms of social media, casting shadows of doubt upon the party’s chosen candidate for the seat of the House of Representatives. In a robust defense of party’s integrity, the leaders articulated their full participation in a transparent primary election, executed in strict accordance with the sanctity of the Electoral Act and the party’s own guiding constitution. The party proudly asserts that on the defining day of May 16, 2026, Hon. Nkwonta emerged victorious, celebrated across the expansive canvas of 20 electoral wards of Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs.
With untiring conviction, the party leadership emphasized that the announcement of Nkwonta’s victory was officially heralded by none other than Barr. Erasmus Cishak, the Chairman of the Abia State National Assembly Primary Elections Committee, as constituted by the National Working Committee. The party’s assertions remained fortified with an insistence that Hon. Nkwonta’s candidacy had neither been substituted nor withdrawn at any juncture in this honorable journey.
Delving deeper into the tenets of democratic processes, the stakeholders articulated that the provisions of the Electoral Act delineate precise procedures for candidate nomination and submission, rendering any attempts at undermining this process through social media propaganda or political maneuvering utterly futile.
The sanctity of the APC primary election was further validated by the vigilant oversight of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ensuring that Nkwonta’s position as the party’s standard-bearer for the impending 2027 general elections stands robust and unassailable”
The party leaders appealed to both party members and the broader public, the Ukwa East and Ukwa West APC to disregard what they characterized as the insidious fabrications of pranksters and scamps. Reaffirming their steadfast dedication to upholding the rule of law, due process and the pillars of internal democracy.
However, the APC leadership of Ukwa East and West extends heartfelt congratulations to Hon. Nkwonta for his significant achievement and pledged a united front to secure his triumph at the poll in 2027.
The party leaders equally expressed their deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the National Executive Committee of the APC, the revered Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and APC luminary in Abia State, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR, along with Hon. Chijioke Chukwu—the Abia State APC Chairman and other party leaders for their abiding commitment to principles of justice, due process and democratic integrity.
They reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and articulated an unshakable support for President Tinubu’s administration, exuding confidence that the party would emerge resoundingly victorious in the upcoming elections.
It is expected that the APC leadership in Abia under Rt Ben Kalu, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives in his usual characteristics should demonstrate political will and insist that the choice of Abians in his party’s are affirmed and not thwarted. He is the leader of the party in the state and witnessed the entire process during the Primaries so cannot allow an intruder assume leadership position or upturn the wishes of his party members in the state.
It is also very important to let the APC at the National Level know that those masquerading as Ambassadors of the party in Abia are non-performers who wear a robe of discipleship but carry the mark of Judas Iscariot as their actions are totally in variance with the name they profess and their plot will spell doom to APC in Abia state. The authentic list of the party’s candidates as uploaded from INEC should be made public as secrecy surrounding the release does not portray the party in good light.
Members of the party in Abia South Senatorial Zone are watching and waiting. The APC should put its house in order and chart the right course, or risk facing serious political consequences and the looming catastrophe that lies ahead.
Maduforo Ekeke. Writes from Aba. Abia state.
2027: At last NDC Speaks On Peter Obi’s Healt
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed concerns over the health of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that the former Anambra State governor is in good health but requires adequate rest due to exhaustion from his demanding political schedule.
The party’s Deputy Campaign Spokesperson, Dr Sam Omale, gave the clarification during an interview on Channels Television, explaining that Obi’s frequent travels, hectic engagements and commitment to political activities had taken a toll on his energy.
According to Omale, the former governor maintains a demanding routine, often travelling between different locations within short periods while attending to numerous political and other responsibilities.
He noted that Obi hardly has enough time to rest, considering the intensity of his engagements and the energy he devotes to his political activities.
Omale expressed amazement at the presidential candidate’s ability to sustain such a hectic schedule, given the number of places he visits and the volume of activities he undertakes daily.
He, however, stressed that Obi’s need for adequate rest should not be interpreted as a sign of ill health, maintaining that the concern was primarily about physical exhaustion arising from his demanding schedule.
The party’s clarification comes amid public concerns over the presidential candidate’s health as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has said he and former governor Peter Obi remain close friends despite their political differences.
Soludo made the clarification during an interview with BBC News Igbo on Monday, where he addressed recent disagreements between his administration and Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The governor said the relationship between their families remained cordial, stressing that their political disagreements had not affected their personal relationship.
“Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms,” Soludo said.
He added that although they had different political interests, both men understood that politics should not define their personal relationship.
“When it comes to politics, give me mine, give him his. It’s politics that is being done,” he added.
Soludo said Obi’s decision to support another candidate during the last Anambra governorship election did not affect their relationship, noting that he eventually secured victory.
“He has someone he thinks should be the governor of Anambra. I am also listening. He supported the person he wanted. But I won by the grace of God,” he said.
Obi governed Anambra State for two terms between March 2006 and March 2014 under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Soludo also disclosed that he personally invited Obi to join APGA in March 2022 to contest the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, the invitation was made at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, with the broader objective of mobilising the Igbo people politically.
“It was me myself who invited him to APGA so he could run, early March 2022 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University,” he said.
The governor, however, explained that he later withdrew his support for Obi’s presidential ambition because he believed his candidacy could weaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and improve the electoral chances of President Bola Tinubu.
“In fact, I also wrote to him that his participation would take away a lot of votes from the PDP and make it easier for Tinubu to win,” Soludo said.
He further argued that even a united opposition might struggle to defeat an incumbent administration, noting that political alliances alone do not guarantee electoral victory.
Soludo’s comments come amid a disagreement between the Anambra State Government and Obi over the state’s debt profile.
The controversy followed a September 14 statement by the state Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, who said the state was still repaying loans obtained by previous administrations, including those of Obi and his successor, Willie Obiano.
Obi rejected the claim, insisting that he left no outstanding debts when he left office. He also maintained that his administration did not owe salaries, pensions or contractors and left N2.1 billion in the state’s ecological fund.
However, the state government subsequently disputed his account, alleging that Obi left $123.77 million in debt.
Amid the exchange, Obi said there was no personal disagreement between him and Soludo, adding that he and his wife were godparents to the governor’s children.
Soludo’s latest remarks appear to reaffirm his position that the disagreement between them is political rather than personal.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged politicians aspiring to succeed him in November 2027 to seek divine guidance, insisting that the state’s next governor must be a God-fearing person.
Diri made the call on Monday during the 15th State Thanksgiving Service held at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, where he said Bayelsa had been committed to God for spiritual guidance and protection.
With the November 2027 governorship election approaching, the governor advised prospective candidates to seek God’s approval, stressing that no individual could overturn a decision made by the Almighty.
“Only God-fearing persons will succeed me. Anybody who wants to be governor must go and seek the face of God. Anyone who wants to be governor must be God-fearing. If God says yes, nobody can say no, not even me,” he said.
The governor maintained that the state had been entrusted to God and that the Almighty would continue to have the final say in its affairs.
He also called on residents to embrace unity, tolerance and patience, describing peace and mutual understanding as essential to the state’s development.
Diri thanked the people of Bayelsa for their support over the past six years, expressing confidence in the state’s development prospects, which he attributed to its natural endowments and his administration’s commitment to transformation.
“Let us continue to worship God. Let us be tolerant and patient as we will become victorious at the end of the day. The Bible itself recognises that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. Today we came to say thank you, Father,” he said.
Reflecting on the state’s development, Diri said residents who had lived in Yenagoa for many years could attest to the changes recorded.
“As I keep saying, those of us who were born in Yenagoa or know Bayelsa of old can see the difference today. It is enough to give thanks,” he added.
He further noted that Bayelsa’s natural environment, coupled with political will, could drive development and improve the lives of residents.
“Dear people of Bayelsa, I thank you also for your support and for standing by this government,” he said.
In his sermon, the guest preacher and former Bayelsa State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Very Rev. Joseph Opelema, urged Christians to combine their religious beliefs with responsible citizenship.
Speaking on the theme, “Called to be Good Christians and Good Citizens,” Opelema said Christians had responsibilities both to the church and the wider society.
Drawing from Matthew 22:15-22, which recounts Jesus’ response to questions about paying taxes, the cleric said the biblical instruction to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God underscored the importance of responsible citizenship.
He urged Christians, particularly those occupying public offices, to demonstrate sacrifice, prudence, accountability, justice, love, care and charity in their daily activities.
Opelema lamented that while many people attended church services, fewer consistently practised Christian values in their everyday lives. He called on believers to become the salt of the earth and the light of the world through their conduct and service to society.
The cleric also described Bayelsa as richly endowed with natural and human resources, favourable weather conditions, land and waterways, which he said could support its development as a tourism destination.
He expressed optimism that God-fearing leadership would help the state realise its potential.
Highlights of the thanksgiving service included the unveiling of a book titled Lively Oracle, containing scriptural declarations made by the governor during morning devotions, and musical performances by gospel artistes.
Those in attendance included the governor’s wives, Dr. Gloria Diri and Justice Patience Diri; Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, and his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe; as well as former deputy governors, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi and Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd.), among other dignitaries.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Anambra State, Senator Emma Anosike, has criticised the judiciary for interfering in the nomination of political party candidates, warning that the practice is undermining internal party democracy and threatening Nigeria’s democratic process.
Anosike described the judgment that replaced Senator Hope Uzodimma with Rochas Okorocha as the candidate for an Imo West senatorial district as an “imperial judgment” that would have only a momentary effect.
He expressed concern that a person who did not participate in the party’s nomination process could emerge as its candidate through a court ruling, despite established procedures for screening aspirants, capturing their details and conducting primary elections.
According to him, the affected aspirant allegedly bypassed these procedures and produced his own documents, which the party subsequently reported to the police as forged.
Anosike said the police investigated the matter and confirmed the alleged forgery, adding that the documents were presented before the court but that the party’s position and police findings were disregarded.
He questioned how a candidate imposed on a political party through a court judgment could successfully contest an election without the support of the party whose platform he was seeking to use.
“If the person is the candidate of the party, how would the election be conducted without the party? Every election is a party. If the party turns its back on the person, that is the end of the person,” he said.
He observed that the problem was not peculiar to Imo State, alleging that courts across the country had increasingly been determining who becomes a candidate for political parties, sometimes without adequate consideration of the parties’ internal nomination processes.
He warned that such interventions could create divisions within political parties, particularly when party leadership and members refused to support candidates who had not emerged through recognised internal procedures.
“How will the person campaign if he did not pass through the party process? Will you force the party members to vote for the person? You are creating more problems because the state party can issue a statement that nobody should work for or vote for the person,” he said.
Anosike however appealed to the judiciary to exercise caution in political party nomination disputes, stressing that the courts remained vital to the survival of democracy but should not undermine the autonomy of political parties.
“The judiciary is key to this democracy, and political parties are also important. The rate at which the judiciary is getting involved in party nominations is negatively impacting our democracy,” he said.
He further alleged that similar cases had occurred in Anambra State, where individuals who did not participate in party nomination processes secured candidacies through court judgments.
As a state party chairman, Anosike said it was difficult to work with candidates who had not participated in the party’s internal processes, adding that such individuals often lacked the support and acceptance of party members.
Anosike also commended Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for what he described as significant infrastructural transformation in the state, urging residents of the South-East to appreciate and acknowledge achievements in governance.
He said the improvements in road infrastructure and public buildings under Uzodimma’s administration had contributed to the state’s development, noting that journeys between Owerri and Enugu had become considerably shorter.
Anosike cited the reconstruction of roads and buildings, including police stations that had reportedly collapsed after being poorly constructed under previous administrations, as evidence of the current government’s efforts to improve infrastructure.
He described the governors of South East as competing constructively with one another and urged political leaders and residents to support efforts that would advance the region’s collective interests.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has declared that there will be no political coalition in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that he and his supporters are fully committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor also assured the ruling party of victory across all elective positions in the state, warning against any political arrangement capable of undermining the party’s unity and electoral prospects.
Nwifuru made the declaration on Saturday at Okpara Square, Enugu, where he joined Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the flag-off of an empowerment programme for more than 5,000 women across the South-East.
The First Lady led the Women Mobilisation Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the event, which was organised under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Speaking at the gathering, Nwifuru said the party’s immediate priority was to ensure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and the success of all APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
“Our project is how to deliver our President, and that is our project for now.
“The APC is the only party that has an open manifesto. We can discuss our manifesto with you, unlike other political parties.
“We don’t have a coalition; we are for all APC candidates,” the governor declared.
He said the APC had put necessary arrangements in place to secure victory in the forthcoming elections, stressing that the party remained united and determined to achieve its political objectives.
According to him, the party would not entertain political arrangements that could weaken its collective strength or distract members from its electoral mission.
The programme, themed “One Region, One Vision: Empowered for Progress,” attracted women and political stakeholders from across the South-East, with the aim of strengthening mobilisation and support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In her remarks, the First Lady said the beneficiaries were women who had remained committed to the APC and consistently supported the party’s interests across the region.
She explained that the empowerment initiative was being implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, was also among dignitaries who attended the event.
The Ebonyi governor is amongst APC governors said to be in the bad books of the FCT minister with the governor alleging plots to unsit him in the 2027 polls.
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