The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress issued a statement on Sunday refuting claims that its State Working Committee had pre‑selected a governorship aspirant. The denial followed an alarm raised by Mascot Uzor Kalu, a candidate for governor and younger brother of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who said the committee was planning to endorse a specific contender and deny a level playing field. The party's statement, signed by Publicity Secretary Uche Aguoru, called the allegation "entirely false, misleading and without any basis." Aguoru asserted, "For the avoidance of doubt, the State Working Committee has not endorsed any aspirant for the governorship ticket or for any elective position whatsoever." The document added that the only collective endorsement made by the party remained that of President Bola Tinubu, and that neither the SWC nor the enlarged State Executive Committee had endorsed any aspirant at any level. The statement also noted that the SWC, led by state chairman Chijioke Chukwu, would guarantee all aspirants a fair contest during the primaries.
The most striking element of the episode is the swift rebuttal by the Abia APC, which suggests the party is keen to distance itself from any perception of back‑room deals, especially given Mascot Uzor Kalu's high‑profile family ties.
The controversy surfaces at a time when the APC is preparing for its governorship primaries in a state where internal factions have long vied for influence. By emphasizing that only President Bola Tinubu has been collectively endorsed, the party attempts to project unity while acknowledging the sensitivity surrounding candidate selection. The reference to Chijioke Chukwu's commitment to a "level playing field" hints at underlying concerns about fairness in the upcoming contests.
For ordinary Abians, the dispute could translate into a more open primary process, offering a broader slate of candidates a genuine chance to compete. Aspirants who might have felt sidelined by alleged endorsements now have a clearer pathway, potentially reshaping the political calculus for voters ahead of the election.
This episode mirrors a broader pattern in Nigerian party politics where allegations of pre‑emptive endorsements trigger public denials, reflecting ongoing struggles to balance elite influence with democratic internal procedures.
