The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Leader of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has declared null and void any alleged list of pre-selected candidates purportedly being circulated ahead of the party’s forthcoming primaries across the state.
In a strongly worded statement addressed to APC members in Abia State, Kalu said it had been brought to his attention that speculations were spreading about the existence of a shortlist of candidates already handpicked to fly the party’s flag in the upcoming House of Assembly, National Assembly, and governorship primaries.
He described the premise of any such list as fundamentally at odds with the principles of participatory democracy and said it ran counter to the provisions of the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.
“Members of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State are advised to ignore any assumption or suspicion of the existence of any kind of list from any quarters arising from House of Assembly, National Assembly and Gubernatorial Primaries, If such a list exists anywhere, it is by this announcement rendered null and void.” – Kalu stated.
The Deputy Speaker was unambiguous about the only two approaches he considers legitimate for conducting the primaries. According to him, the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution recognise direct primaries where aspirants mobilise grassroots support to win in an open vote and consensus, where aspirants mutually agree in writing to produce a consensus candidate.
He directed all aspirants to either galvanise the grassroots support required to win a direct primary or engage in deliberations with fellow aspirants to arrive at what he described as a “consensus ad idem” a meeting of minds producing a jointly accepted candidate.
Any arrangement outside these two frameworks, Kalu made clear, would carry no legitimacy under his leadership of the party in the state.
Warning To Disruptors
While stopping short of naming individuals, Kalu issued a pointed warning to those he described as “disruptors,” assuring party members that the spirit that guided the conduct of the APC’s recent congresses which he said were centred on the people would equally define the conduct of the primaries.
“We will remain together no matter the antics of disruptors,” he said,
He pledged the full support of the party leadership at all levels to members who work through legitimate channels.
Kalu called on APC members across Abia State to intensify grassroots mobilisation immediately, framing the period ahead as a critical window to consolidate the party’s structure and position it for what he described as “massive electoral victories across contests next year.”
“We have work to do. Let us keep tilling the ground as we have been doing and prepare our party for massive electoral victories,” he said, closing with assurances that the party’s leadership remained unified and committed to a credible primary process. The statement was signed by Ben Kalu in his capacity as Leader of Abia APC.
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