Tension in Abia oil producing communities over APC House of Reps ticket

The dust raised by the May 16, 2026 House of Representatives primary election conducted by the All Progressive Congress, APC in Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal constituency of Abia State has refused to settle.

This is despite the recent statement by the party in the State affirming Chris Nkwonta as the winner of the primary.

Abia State chapter of the APC had on July 1, 2026 , reiterated that the primary election was won by the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta, dismissing any suggestion to the contrary.

But on Sunday, a large group of APC members from the oil producing area of Ukwa East and Ukwa Federal constituency gathered at Oforji Road, off Port Harcourt Road in Obehie, Ukwa West LGA of Abia State to insist that the APC House of Representatives ticket was won by their son, Samuel Nwogu, the former Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ASOPADEC.

The pro-Nwogu people, who appeared with placards, comprised members of New Ukwa Progressive Initiative, NUPI,  Asa Development Union, ADA,  Renewed Hope Ambassadors, among other indigenes.

The leaders, who spoke through Akanwa Franklin, Boniface Nwaigwe, among others, said the House of Representatives seat had been occupied by a particular section of the constituency for twenty years consecutively.

While thanking President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman Professor Nenwata Yilwatda for maintaining equity and fairness on the primary election, the Ukwa leaders warned of anything that could destroy the peace in the oil producing villages.

However, another group of APC leaders  oyal  to the incumbent House of Representatives member, Chris Nkwonta, have held a press conference to declare that Nkwonta remained the  APC House of Representatives candidate for 2027 election.

The pro-Nkwonta group who gathered at Akwete, Ukwa East LGA on Tuesday, countered any move to announce Samuel Nwogu as the candidate.

 In a communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman of APC in Ukwa East LGA, Chiwuike Ekeke, Chairman of APC in Ukwa West LGA,  Success Enyinnaya, among others, they said the APC ticket for the Federal constituency was won by Nkwonta.

They stressed that Nkwonta’s victory was officially announced by the Chairman of the Abia State National Assembly Primary Elections Committee constituted by the National Working Committee, Erasmus Cishak, and insisted that his candidature had neither been substituted nor withdrawn at any time.