As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for the submission of names of candidates by political parties to INEC portal, ahead of the 2023 general elections ends Friday, there are fears that the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC), has come under intense pressure to replace the party’s Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, Hon Sam Onuigbo.
Some stakeholders of the party, who expressed their concern on the allegation, accused some leaders of the party in Abia state of plotting to replace Onuigbo with a former Deputy Governor in the state, Chief Emeka Atuma, who contested for the party’s governorship ticket and lost and never picked Form to run for Senate.
Hon Onuigbo, a seating Member of the House of Representatives, who recently defected from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, had emerged in the Abia Central Senatorial primary, after defeating his closest rival, Hon Henry Ikoh 157-152 in an exercise monitored by INEC, and endorsed by the returning officer.
However, in a gross display of impunity, some leaders of the party in the state, are alleged to have mounted intense pressure on the NWC to have the Candidate’s name substituted .
A source in the inside APC National secretariat disclosed that the Abia APC leaders are working with Chief Emma Enukwu, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South to upturn the result that is already with the INEC.
It was reliably gathered that the move has however been greeted by strong opposition from some vocal members of the NWC who argued that the action will put the NWC in disrepute.
Reacting to the development, Hon Onuigbo said he is not aware of any threat to replace his name, stating that APC abhors impunity.
He however cautioned against anything that may discourage party faithful who turned out enmass in Umuahia to pick their favorite representative, not to mention possible legal implications of such high handed action.
