A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mr. Mascot Uzor-Kalu, has rejected an alleged plan by the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) to endorse a preferred candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial primary election.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Umuahia, the state capital, Uzor-Kalu warned that any attempt to impose a candidate through a “backdoor arrangement” would be met with stiff resistance, describing such a move as illegitimate and a threat to internal democracy within the party.
Uzor-Kalu, in the statement, alleged that members of the APC State Executive Committee, Local Government Area chairmen, and selected stakeholders had been mobilised to attend a meeting on April 12, 2026, under the guise of planning for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
However, the aspirant claimed that credible information available to him indicated that the gathering was a “premeditated plan to foist an aspirant on the party through an endorsement charade.”
“Credible information available to me indicates that this gathering is nothing more than a premeditated plan to foist an aspirant on the party through an endorsement charade,” the statement read in part.
Uzor-Kalu did not mince words in expressing his opposition to the alleged consensus plot. He insisted that any endorsement conducted without the participation of all aspirants would be invalid.
“Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity: any premeditated consensus arrangement orchestrated by the APC State Working Committee (SWC) and stakeholders, without the participation of all aspirants contesting for the same position, is illegitimate, unacceptable, and null and void ab initio. Such an imposition will be met with stiff and unequivocal resistance,” he warned.
He further cautioned the Abia APC SWC against actions he said could undermine party unity and credibility, stating that party executives were elected to uphold fairness, not to serve as tools for personal ambition.
“No Amount of Intimidation Will Make Me Step Down”
The governorship hopeful reiterated his commitment to remaining in the race, calling on Abians to reject what he described as political puppetry.
“I stand firm with all Abians; no amount of intimidation will make me step down. Every Abian has the constitutional right to run for any political office they deem fit. We shall not be cajoled into believing that one individual, who is not prepared to run for office, is now the anointed candidate,” Uzor-Kalu declared.
He also warned the SWC to desist from attending any pro-group meetings convened by aspirants, adding, “The integrity of our party is non-negotiable, and any attempt to subvert it will be strongly challenged.”
APC Denies Allegation, Pledges Level Playing Field
Reacting to the allegations, the Abia APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Uche Aguoru, dismissed claims of any planned endorsement by the State Working Committee.
Aguoru insisted that the State Executive Committee, led by Mr. Chijioke Chukwu, remains fully committed to providing a level playing field for all aspirants.
“The alleged endorsement exists only in the imagination of those raising such concerns,” Aguoru said.
He added, “Neither the State Working Committee (SWC) nor the enlarged EXCO has endorsed any aspirant at any level. We will ensure that the primary election is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.”
Aguoru acknowledged that it is not unusual for politicians to raise such concerns as part of the political process, often seeking reassurance about fairness. However, he reiterated that the SWC has no preferred aspirant and is fully dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity for all.
Mascot Uzor-Kalu is one of several aspirants vying for the APC governorship ticket in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general elections. His rejection of the alleged endorsement plot highlights growing tensions within the party’s ranks as the primary election approaches.
The APC has been working to strengthen its presence in Abia, a state historically dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and, more recently, the Labour Party (LP). Any internal crisis arising from the gubernatorial primary could impact the party’s chances in the general election.
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