APC Assembly Aspirant Alleges Manipulation of Ukwa West Primary Results

An aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ukwa West State Constituency seat in the Abia State House of Assembly, Mr Izuchukwu Noble Ahuruonye, has accused party officials of manipulating the outcome of the party’s primary election held on May 20.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Ahuruonye claimed he was duly declared the winner of the primary election conducted across the 10 wards in Ukwa West before the results were allegedly altered in favour of another aspirant, Chief Sylvanus Nwaji.

According to Ahuruonye, four aspirants contested in the primary, which he described as “free and fair.”

He said the returning officer assigned by the party conducted the exercise peacefully and later announced him as the winner at the collation centre in Asa South Ward.

“The returning officer who came and conducted the primary election declared me the winner of the primary election,” Ahuruonye said.

He added that the declaration was reportedly captured by media organisations including Channels Television, Punch Newspapers, and ThisDay Newspaper.

Ahuruonye alleged that after the exercise, he and other party members escorted the returning officer to the APC secretariat in Umuahia to ensure the results were safely delivered. However, he claimed the state party chairman, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, refused to accept the results, insisting that the returning officer had been replaced.

“To our greatest surprise, the party chairman refused to collect the results, arguing that the returning officer sent to Ukwa West was no longer the recognised officer,” he said.

The aspirant further alleged that another electoral officer later confessed to him that he had been pressured to leave his assignment in Ukwa East and proceed to Ukwa West to produce results in favour of another candidate.

According to Ahuruonye, the officer told him he was directed to “pretend as if he was the rightful returning officer” after party interests allegedly lost the initial contest.

He also alleged that result sheets originally meant for Ukwa East were used to prepare what he described as “false results” in Ukwa West.

Ahuruonye claimed that despite efforts to reach party leaders and present evidence, the party eventually announced Chief Sylvanus Nwaji as the winner of the primary.

Providing details of the results he said were declared at the venue, Ahuruonye stated that he polled 4,451 votes, defeating his closest rivals. He said Chief Sylvanus Nwaji scored 1,076 votes, Mmemme Christian Ikechi secured 1,412 votes, while Ogbu Uchechukwu Princewill got 301 votes.

Expressing disappointment over the outcome, Ahuruonye accused party officials of compromising the mandate of party members and supporters in Ukwa West.

“I felt that the choice and mandate of the people had been compromised,” he said.

The APC aspirant disclosed that he has contacted his lawyer and is preparing a petition to the party’s appeal committee to challenge the outcome of the primary.

“I am optimistic that justice will prevail,” he added.

He appealed to the party leadership to “do the needful” to protect the integrity of the APC and restore confidence among party supporters in Ukwa West.

“The people back home are sad and not happy based on what the party has done to me. I appeal to the party to ensure that the mandate of the people is secured,” he said.