Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State convened in Umuahia ahead of the party’s upcoming primary elections scheduled to begin this weekend. The meeting served as a strategic session to review preparations and reinforce internal cohesion within the party structure.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who addressed the gathering, described the moment as symbolic and encouraging, noting that the party had made significant progress over the past three years.
He stated that the APC in Abia had grown stronger and more organized, positioning itself not only to secure support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but also to compete effectively across all elective positions in the state.
Kalu commended aspirants who purchased nomination forms to contest under the party’s platform, while urging them to remain united regardless of the outcomes of the primaries. He cautioned that internal competition should not undermine the collective progress achieved in recent months.
He further emphasized that no candidate would be automatically selected, explaining that all aspirants would pass through either consensus arrangements or direct primaries as the approved methods for candidate selection.
According to him, the party’s recent stability has been built on continuous dialogue, agreement, and understanding among stakeholders, adding that such cooperation remains essential as the party moves into a crucial electoral phase.
The Deputy Speaker also expressed appreciation to key party figures including former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, and former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiru Onyejeocha, for their roles in strengthening the party’s unity in the state.
He concluded by expressing optimism that the APC is entering what he described as a “new dawn” in Abia politics, insisting that the party is well-positioned for victory in the forthcoming elections if unity is sustained.
