Crisis Looms in Abia APC Over Alleged Move to Endorse Governorship aspirant

1. Ahead of the upcoming governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, a governorship aspirant, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, has accused the State Working Committee (SWC) of planning to hold a meeting where it will endorse one of the governorship aspirants of the party, a charge the SWC has strongly denied.9oi

Currently, three persons are believed to be harbouring governorship ambitions in Abia APC, namely, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh and the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Dr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. While Mascot and Ikoh have made their ambitions public, Kalu says he will soon answer the “call by the people” for him to run for Abia governorship seat in 2027.

Mascot alleged on Sunday, that he has intelligence that “a so-called stakeholders’ meeting” was being convened in Umuahia same day, “where members of the APC State Executive, Local Government Area Chairmen and other handpicked party stakeholders have been reportedly instructed to mobilise 20 persons per ward under the belief that the meeting is about the presidential campaigns for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

But he claimed that “this gathering is nothing more than a premeditated plan to foist an aspirant on the party through an endorsement charade.”

“Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity: any premeditated consensus arrangement orchestrated by the APC State Working Committee (SWC) and stakeholders, without the participation of all aspirants contesting for the same position, is illegitimate, unacceptable, and null and void ab initio. Such an imposition will be met with stiff and unequivocal resistance,” he warned.

The aspirant reminded the party executives that they were elected to uphold fairness, internal democracy, due process and “not to act as agents of endorsement for any individual,” urging them to guard against being “reduced to a tool for personal ambition or manipulated to serve narrow interests,” but must remain neutral and not dance to the tune of any aspirant, as elected custodians of the party structure.

He cautioned Abia APC SWC to desist from actions that could undermine party unity and credibility, stressing that “the era of coercion, backdoor arrangements, and political puppetry is over.”

Mascot unequivocally stated that “no amount of intimidation will make me step down,” adding: “Every Abian has the constitutional right to run for any political office they deem fit. We shall not be cajoled into believing that one individual, who is not prepared to run for office, is now the anointed candidate.”

He warned the SWC to desist from attending any pro-group meetings, especially those convened by aspirants to maintain the integrity of the party.

But in a swift reaction, the SWC denied being involved “in a planned meeting convened to endorse a particular aspirant for the party’s governorship ticket.”

Dismissing the allegation as “entirely false, misleading, and without any basis” Abia APC Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, in a statement, assured of the neutrality of the SWC.

He explained though that the SWC may attend meetings or events convened by party leaders, stakeholders, or affiliated structures in the course of its duties if invited, however, he emphasized that such participation must not be misconstrued as endorsement, “as the EXCO will at all times operate strictly within the bounds of its constitutional responsibilities and remain neutral in all contestations.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the State Working Committee has not endorsed any aspirant for the governorship ticket or for any elective position whatsoever. Furthermore, the SWC is not constitutionally empowered to endorse candidates in the manner being alleged. Our responsibility is to provide a neutral administrative platform that guarantees fairness and credibility in the party’s processes.

“The only endorsement ever made collectively by the party structure at this level remains that of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in line with our national obligations and party cohesion.

“We reiterate unequivocally that neither the SWC nor the enlarged State Executive Committee (EXCO) has endorsed any aspirant at any level,” the statement read in part.

Aguoru assured that under the leadership of the State Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, Abia APC “remains firmly committed to internal democracy,” and” dedicated to ensuring that all aspirants are given a level playing field, and that the forthcoming primaries will be conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner.”

He therefore urged stakeholders to refrain from spreading unfounded claims capable of causing unnecessary tension within the party.

“As a committee, we are focused on delivering victory at all levels for the APC in the coming elections and to ensure that Abia State APC remains united, focused, and committed to delivering a credible electoral process that reflects the will of our members,” the Publicity Secretary promised.