APC stakeholders in Abia Central reject senatorial primary outcome, alleging irregularities, vote allocation and calling for investigation and review
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia Central Senatorial District have rejected the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary election held on May 18, 2026, alleging widespread irregularities, exclusion of members and manipulation of results.
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The aggrieved party members, in a formal protest letter addressed to the national leadership of the APC, described the exercise as a “farcical display of brigandage” and called for an immediate investigation into the conduct and outcome of the primary.
The petition, titled “Irregularities, Brigandage, and Breach of Electoral Process in Abia Central Senatorial Primary,” was signed by stakeholders led by Uche Onyejekwe and Mrs Ego Nwamuo.
The protesters said they initially welcomed the adoption of the direct primary system, believing it would give party members a fair opportunity to choose their candidate for the 2027 general election.
However, they alleged that the process was hijacked by a few individuals who denied many party faithful the opportunity to participate in what was meant to be a transparent exercise.
According to them, party members gathered across various wards but did not witness any accreditation, voting or presence of electoral officials in several locations.
They further claimed that results were later announced despite what they described as the absence of any credible voting process on the ground.
The stakeholders accused organisers of allocating votes in wards where no election was conducted, describing the outcome as predetermined and fraudulent.
They expressed shock over the announcement of Hon. Emeka Atumah as the winner, questioning the credibility of the figures declared in his favour.
The petitioners insisted that what was presented as results did not reflect any verifiable electoral process and demanded video evidence to support claims of voting in affected wards.
They listed several areas, including Oloko Ward 2, Usaka Ward in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Osisioma Wards 2, 3, 8 and 9, Okporo Ahaba Ward 1, and Ntighauzo Primary School, as locations where they said no voting took place.
The aggrieved APC members urged the party’s national leadership to investigate what they described as breaches of procedure and the alleged illegal exclusion of members during the primary.
They also called for a review of the outcome and a possible rerun of the exercise in affected areas where no evidence of participation was recorded.
The stakeholders maintained that party members are ready to testify and provide accounts of events in their respective wards.
The group appealed to the APC leadership to use its internal disciplinary mechanisms to address the alleged irregularities and sanction those responsible if found culpable.
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They stressed that resolving the crisis is necessary to preserve internal democracy and strengthen confidence in the party’s candidate selection process ahead of future elections.
