The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has rejected reports suggesting that the party is working on a political alliance with Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2027 elections.
The state APC chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, made the clarification during a stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat in Umuahia, saying he had consulted senior party figures and found no basis for the reported agreement.
Chukwu said the APC had no plans to enter into an alliance with the Labour Party, which he accused of worsening the difficulties faced by residents of the state.
He also criticised the Otti administration over what he described as concerns about accountability, government contracts and some of its policies.
Addressing reports that APC governorship candidate Eric Opah and other party stakeholders had reached an understanding with the Labour Party, Chukwu insisted that no such arrangement existed.
“I am the state chairman, and I have consulted the highest stakeholders in the state, and I want to tell you that there is no such unholy alliance, and there will never be.”
The APC chairman further accused the state government of allegedly inflating the cost of some contracts and questioned its handling of certain government decisions.
He cited the government’s spending on school renovation and the suspension of a lecturer over comments he reportedly made as examples of what he described as poor governance.
Chukwu said the APC would not support any political arrangement with what he called an administration that had failed to demonstrate sufficient accountability.
APC Warns Candidates Against Secret Deals
While ruling out an alliance with Otti and the LP, Chukwu urged APC members to remain united ahead of the 2027 elections.
He specifically warned candidates who secure the party’s tickets against using those tickets as bargaining tools in negotiations with other political parties.
“We need to go into the election as one strong body.”
According to him, any political negotiations involving the APC would have to be based on the party’s stated objectives of good governance, accountability and improved welfare for Abia residents.
He said the party would prioritise issues such as payment of pensions and the provision of an acceptable minimum wage.
Chukwu also expressed confidence that the APC could win the 2027 elections in Abia, arguing that party members would only fully benefit from their membership by remaining committed to the party.
He said his own political interest was tied to having APC candidates occupy elective positions across the state, from governor to the state House of Assembly.
APC Grants Pardon to Suspended Members
At the stakeholders’ meeting, the Abia APC also granted unconditional pardon to members facing disciplinary measures.
Those affected included Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, and Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa Federal Constituency.
The two had recently faced suspension over alleged anti-party comments.
Source: Abia State APC.
