A majority of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, has endorsed former Chief Henry Ikoh, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
The decision followed hours of closed-door consultations on Thursday involving key stakeholders and party leaders in the state.
The endorsement of the Minister of State for Science and Technology, was formalised in a resolution signed by 13 of the 18 SWC members.
Among the signatories were State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja; Deputy Chairman, Chinedu Ihesinulo; Deputy Secretary, Benedict Godson; and State Organising Secretary, Emeka Okorafor.
The SWC said Ikoh was adopted for his leadership capacity, political experience, ability to unify the party, and competence to reposition Abia.
“We, the undersigned leaders and stakeholders of the APC in Abia, after extensive deliberations and consultations, unanimously adopt Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh as the APC consensus governorship candidate for the party’s primary election holding today, May 21, 2026,” the resolution stated.
The committee said the decision was taken “in the overall interest of party unity, electoral victory, and the desire to present a credible, experienced and widely accepted candidate capable of leading APC to victory in Abia”
Other signatories included State Woman Leader, Mrs C.C Erondu C.C.; Treasurer, John Ajuziogu; Legal Adviser, Vigilus Nwankwo; Youth Leader, Jerry Awa; Financial Secretary N.C. Ujoumunna; Welfare Secretary, Ebere Nwachukwu; and Auditor, Emmanuel Nwuhiara.
Speaking to journalists in Umuahia, Okorafor said the committee adopted Ikoh after Mascot Uzor Kalu withdrew from the race earlier in the day, leaving Ikoh as the only recognised aspirant.
He also raised concerns over the emergence of what he called a “strange aspirant” allegedly unknown to the party structure.
“We realised we had two candidates until suddenly we saw a new face that was never part of our party,” Okorafor said.
“With Mascot Kalu stepping down, we believe we now have one candidate. We exercised our democratic rights to adopt him as our sole aspirant for today’s gubernatorial primaries,” he insisted.
Okorafor added that appointment letters had been issued to party officials to oversee direct primaries across the state, and that an affirmation process would proceed even with a sole candidate.
When asked if the APC national leadership had been informed, he said, “It’s a decision I will communicate to them. It’s our own decision.”
He dismissed criticisms that the SWC raised concerns too late about the identity of the new aspirant, saying the committee acted to protect the party’s integrity and electoral interests.
The endorsement is expected to reshape the internal dynamics within Abia APC as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
