APC Returning Officer Alleges Result Manipulation in Ukwa West Assembly Primary

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Wilson Chukwuma Eze, has accused the leadership of the party in Abia State of rejecting the authentic outcome of the House of Assembly primary election conducted in Ukwa West Local Government Area.

Speaking during an interview on Friday, Eze said he was officially appointed by the State Chairman of the party on May 20, 2026, to serve as the returning officer for the election in Ukwa West.

According to him, the APC state chairman personally handed him the assignment alongside another party member, Hon. Oji, directing them to oversee the primary election process in the area.

Eze explained that after receiving the documents from the party leadership, he proceeded to Ukwa West where he and his colleague monitored the exercise across the various wards in the local government area.

“We went round the wards to monitor the exercise and record the number of votes scored by all the aspirants who participated in the election,” he said.

He stated that after the collation and computation of results, one Honourable Izuchukwu Noble Ahuruonye emerged as the winner of the primary election.

“After the result was computed, I declared the winner. That is the rule. I went there, declared the result and announced the winner of the election,” Eze added.

The APC chieftain further alleged that upon returning to the party’s state office in Umuahia to submit the results, he was shocked when the state chairman rejected the outcome.

“Surprisingly, the state chairman harassed me and rejected the result. I asked him why he would reject the result after sending me to conduct the exercise. Till now, I have no explanation,” he said.

Eze warned that the development could damage the image of the APC, especially as the primary election was reportedly monitored by security agencies, party faithful, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and several media organizations including Channels Television, ThisDay, and Punch newspapers.

He described the pronouncement of another candidate as “null and void,” insisting that it did not reflect the will of party members at the grassroots.

“We are in a democracy where the people should choose their leaders. If a man emerged as a winner in the field, why deny him his right?” he queried.

Eze appealed to the leadership of the APC, including the deputy speaker and other stakeholders in the party, to intervene and ensure justice is done.

“Injustice is injustice anywhere in the world. Announcing a different person who did not win the election is embarrassing and should not be allowed to stand,” he said.

The APC leadership in Abia State had yet to officially respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.