No Automatic Ticket for Anyone – Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu

At the stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu stated that there will be no automatic ticket for anyone vying for elective positions under the Party. He advised aspirants to test their popularity through the direct primaries scheduled to be held in the State on 15 May 2026.

“There’s no list anywhere by anybody, all those things are fake news. If you like circulate the list, you are wasting your time.”

He reiterated that the Electoral Act allows two ways for an aspirant to become a candidate of the Party: consensus and direct primaries. He emphasised that the Party will not impose any candidate.

“If we cannot agree on a consensus, we go to the poll. If you win me, I’ll go back home; if I win you, you will go back home. We want to ensure that the party will not be litigated after the primaries.

“I waited for 17 years, and today I am the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Back then, there were always reasons I couldn’t go, but today those years have been regained.”

Encouraging all aspirants, the Deputy Speaker mentioned that there will be losers and winners in every election, emphasising that everyone has a winning time and urging the people not to give up. He highlighted the high expectations from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Abia State, noting that the Party has laboured for years to reach its current position.

“What we set out to do for three years now, to build a strong party in the State, we have achieved it. When we speak, everywhere shakes,” he stated, praying for peaceful primaries for the Party.

Contributing, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, called for unity within the Party, emphasising that unity is essential for victory at the polls. He also pointed out that nobody should judge between him and the Deputy Speaker, as they know and understand each other.

“We know how we started, and we know how we ended. The President asked me questions about him, and I answered in his favour. If my brother is running for Governor, he’s doing so on his own.”

He mentioned his friendship with other governorship aspirants, such as Chief Eric Opah and Chief Henry Ikoh, and urged for a transparent primary, promising support for whoever wins.

“If we don’t want to support, we will go back to our houses and sit down. It has happened before in 2023,” he said.

He distanced himself from any rumours of a preferred list, stating that none exists. Despite his shortcomings like everyone else, he urged the Party to remain united and to focus on winning elections, starting from the primaries.

In his address, APC State Chairman Chief Chijioke Chukwu praised the Party’s unity, revealing that all State leaders attended the event.

“Nobody will believe that all the leaders of the Party will come together under one roof. We are united by the common goal of defeating propaganda-driven enemies. Anyone absent today took permission to be away. Henry Ikoh was granted permission to be absent; aside from him, every leader of APC is here.”

He noted that the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms went smoothly and that the Party has never been more vibrant.

“Abia APC has no reason not to produce the Governor. The owners of polling units are here. We have all the people we need to win. We cannot succeed if we do not conduct this primary peacefully. I urge us all to ensure the primaries are successful.”

Meanwhile, Barrister Emeka Okoroafor, the State Organising Secretary, confirmed that the Party has adopted direct primaries and only members up to date with their dues will be eligible to vote.

He urged aspirants to submit a list of their agents to monitor and follow the voting process.

He mentioned that 64 aspirants bought forms for the House of Assembly, but only 63 passed the screening exercise while one was disqualified for not being a registered Party member.

He added that 24 aspirants are contesting for 8 House of Representatives seats in Abia State, along with 3 governorship aspirants and 2 aspirants for Abia North Senatorial District.

He assured Party members that the primary election will be free and fair, free from intimidation, and reiterated that there is no preferred list of candidates.

Meanwhile, the three governorship aspirants include Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu, Chief Eric Opah, and Chief Henry Ikoh.

While the Senatorial aspirants include; Dr Philip Nto, Chief Nyerere Anyim for Abia South, Dr Sam Iheanyichukwu Onuigbo for Abia Central Senatorial zone, Dame Dr Blessing Nwagba, Rt Emeka Atuma for Abia Central, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Elder Erondu Uchenna Erondu.

Aspirants for the House of Representatives; RT Hon Chinedum Orji, Adamazi Mary Ikoku, Rt Hon Martins Uzor Azubuike, Chief Mrs Precious Achumba, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu, Surveyor Mark Ugoji, Chief Uzo Ihuka, Rt Hon Bishop Kennedy Orungwa, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe Don Lulu, Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, Hon Chidi Nnamdi, Hon. Ndubuisi Nkire, and others.

Highlight of the event was the oath by all the aspirants to abide by the outcome of the Primaries and support the winner of the election in all the respective seats.

Present at the event was former lawmaker who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency Hon Sam Onuigbo, Abia State Commissioner at the Niger Delta Development Commission Chief Dimgba Eruba, former Commissioner Chief Charles Ogbonna, former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Martins Azubuike, former Speaker Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, Chima Agbaeze, Hon. Dr Mike Ukoha, Chief Nyerere, Barrister Chima Ogbonna, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, Chief Enyioha Elendu, Chief Uche Aguoru, Chief Eric Ikwuagwu, Chief Sam Hart, Hon. Okeosisi Orji Ubaha, Chief Iheanyi Chinasa (Dogo Bende), Mayor Lucky Igbokwe (Don Lulu), Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, Dr Ikechukwu Nwabekee, Chief Mrs Precious Achumba, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu, Chief Chinedu Ochiulo, and other notable dignitaries.