2027: Abia APC zones guber ticket to central, gives reasons

…Ikoh applauds move, says it’ll promote equity, fairness

By Steve Oko

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has zoned its 2027 governorship ticket to Abia Central Senatorial District, in a move the party says is aimed at promoting equity and balanced representation.

The decision was announced in a statement issued Friday by the party’s publicity secretary, Chief Uche Aguoru, to guide aspirants seeking to purchase expression of interest and nomination forms.

The party said the zoning aligns with its internal power-sharing understanding, noting that the current state chairman is from Abia North, while the immediate past governor emerged from Abia South.

“Equity and fairness demand that Abia Central be given the opportunity to produce the next governor,” the statement said, adding that the arrangement reflects the state’s long-standing rotational principle since 1999.

Reacting, former minister of science and technology and frontline aspirant from the zone, Chief Henry Ikoh, hailed the decision as a step toward justice and inclusiveness.

Ikoh urged party members and aspirants from other zones to rally behind the resolution in the interest of unity.

“Abia is now a low-hanging fruit for the APC,” he said, expressing confidence that the party would secure victory in the 2027 polls.

Ikoh said, “I want to sincerely thank my party leadership for the decision. It will help to promote equity and fairness.

“The party will work in synergy to deliver Abia State from bottom up. There is no game saying that if we are fair to everybody, APC will win Abia. Abia is a low-hanging fruit.”

Meanwhile, the APC also called on stakeholders across the state to respect the zoning arrangement and work collectively toward winning the governorship election.

Below is a full text of the statement:

“This is to notify our esteemed members and the general public in Abia State that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has zoned its governorship ticket for the forthcoming election to Abia Central Senatorial District.

“This notice serves to guide our members and intending aspirants in the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

“This decision is taken in the interest of equity, justice, and fair play and in line with the party’s commitment to balanced representation across the three senatorial zones.

“Since the return of democracy in 1999, Abia State has operated on an understanding of power rotation among the three zones to foster unity and inclusiveness.

“The decision is further premised on the fact that the state chairman of the party hails from the Abia North Senatorial District, while Abia South produced the immediate past governor of the state. It is therefore just and equitable for Abia Central to produce the next governor on the APC platform.

“We appeal to all aspirants and stakeholders from other zones to respect this decision of the party in the spirit of sportsmanship. Let us work together to secure victory for our great party.”

With the latest development, the rumoured governorship ambition of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who is from the Abia North senatorial district, may have suffered a setback.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was a two-term governor of the state before moving to the Senate, also hails from the same Bende Local Government Area as the Deputy Speaker.