The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted President Bola Tinubu as her sole presidential candidate for the party primaries and the general election in 2027.
This is even as the deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has called for unity within the party in the state.
The decision to adopt Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate was taken at a stakeholders meeting of the APC in Abia State, held at Bende Local Government Area, yesterday.
The motion was moved by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Kalu, and subsequently seconded by the APC National Welfare Secretary, Donatus Nwankpa, and was endorsed by stakeholders present.
Speaking at the meeting he described as pre congress, Kalu said it underscored renewed efforts to consolidate the party’s structure, expand its membership, and present a united front ahead of internal congresses and future elections.
Kalu dismissed claims of factionalism within the party in the state, insisting that unity is essential for electoral success.
He reminded members that ward congresses were scheduled for Wednesday, and urged them to conduct the process peacefully and transparently.
The Reps deputy speaker, who is representing Bende Federal Constituency, said the gathering drew representatives from all 17 local government areas of the state, with 10 delegates from each council, a turnout he described as evidence of the party’s resilience and growing presence in Abia.
He said the party in the state currently accommodates a broad spectrum of political actors and professionals, including serving and former legislators at federal and state levels, former council chairmen and councillors, commissioners, industry leaders, and other prominent figures.
He argued that this diversity dispels claims that the party lacks relevance in the state.
He thanked members for their participation in the recent electronic membership registration and recalled that the national leadership of the party had expressed concern about the exercise in Abia because the state does not have a sitting APC governor.
Kalu said he assured the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, that the process would succeed, an assurance he said was validated by the outcome.
Emphasising internal democracy, Kalu said no individual owned the party and urged members to return to their wards and local councils to agree on leaders who could deliver results.
“Our intention is to build structures that belong to the people and can deliver for the party at every level,” he said, adding that the party’s immediate focus is to mobilise support for President Tinubu.
Several stakeholders who spoke at the meeting, including Chief Anyim Nyerere, Sir Don Ubani, Chief Emeka Atuma, Prince Chris Igwe, Chief Paul Mba, Rt Hon Christopher Enweremadu, and Senator Nkechi Nwogu, praised Kalu for his efforts in bringing members of the party in Abia together, and appealed for unity.
The said the party’s renewed focus on inclusiveness has energised its base and expressed optimism that the party would win the 2027 election in the state.
