The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has denied reports that some aspirants had been handed automatic tickets ahead of its primaries.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, dismissed the speculation on Thursday during a pre-primary stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Umuahia.
Kalu said the APC would not impose candidates on members, insisting that all aspirants must emerge through a transparent and democratic process.
“We are not going to impose any candidate. We want to ensure that after the primaries, the party is not going to disintegrate. We have worked hard and it is now time to harvest,” he said.
Kalu said the party had approved only two democratic options for the selection of candidates.
He added, “There is no automatic ticket and no list by anybody. The party has given us only two democratic options — consensus or direct primaries.”
The deputy speaker said the wishes of party members would determine who would fly the party’s flag in the 2027 elections.
Abia APC Now United – Orji Kalu
Also speaking, former Abia State governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, said President Bola Tinubu had urged APC leaders in the state to remain united ahead of the elections.
“The President told me clearly that the only gift Abia APC can give him is to deliver the state,” Orji Kalu said.
He added, “The President also told me not to quarrel with my younger brother. I have no problems with Ben Kalu anymore. The quarrel is gone. Abia APC is now united.”
The APC said three governorship aspirants, nine senatorial aspirants, 24 House of Representatives aspirants and 64 House of Assembly aspirants purchased nomination forms in the state.
The state Organising Secretary, Emeka Okoroafor, said only one House of Representatives aspirant was disqualified for not being a registered party member.