A fresh political debate has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State following the party’s decision to zone its 2027 governorship ticket to Abia Central Senatorial District.
In an official press release signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the APC announced that the zoning arrangement is intended to guide members and aspirants interested in purchasing Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the election. The party emphasized that the move aligns with principles of fairness, equity, and balanced representation across Abia’s three senatorial districts.
According to the statement, the zoning decision reflects the long-standing practice of power rotation in Abia State since the return to democracy in 1999.
The party noted that Abia North currently holds the position of State Chairman, while Abia South produced the immediate past governor. Based on this arrangement, APC leaders argued that it is only fair for Abia Central to produce the party’s next governorship candidate.
The APC further appealed to stakeholders and aspirants from other zones to respect the decision and support the party’s collective goal of securing victory in the 2027 general elections.
However, the announcement has been met with strong opposition from key stakeholders within the party.
The Mascot Uzor Kalu Campaign Organisation rejected the zoning arrangement, describing it as unconstitutional, premature, and lacking legitimacy.
In a statement issued by its media team, the group questioned the authenticity of the decision, claiming that members of the State Working Committee (SWC) had not convened any formal meeting to approve such a resolution.
The group also argued that zoning has never been a determining factor in the party’s governorship primaries in Abia. It cited previous election cycles where aspirants from different senatorial zones freely contested, with candidates emerging through competitive primaries.
Reaffirming its stance, the campaign organisation declared its outright rejection of the zoning policy and warned against any attempt to impose candidates or undermine internal democracy within the party.
Similarly, the Benjamin Kalu Movement (BKM) expressed disappointment over the development, calling the decision “hasty” and lacking adequate consultation. The group’s Director-General, Hon. Emma Trumps Eke, noted that such a critical decision should involve broad stakeholder engagement to avoid deepening divisions within the party.
The movement stressed that both Abia North and Abia South have credible aspirants who deserve a fair opportunity to contest. It also raised concerns that the zoning arrangement could sideline potential candidates, particularly from Abia North, thereby weakening party unity.
While acknowledging the importance of zoning, the BKM cautioned against using it as a tool to exclude qualified aspirants or advance narrow political interests. The group urged the APC leadership at both state and national levels to reconsider the decision in order to preserve party cohesion and strengthen its chances in the upcoming election.
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As tensions continue to rise, political observers note that the controversy highlights deeper challenges within the APC in Abia State, particularly as the party seeks to rebuild and position itself competitively ahead of the 2027 polls.
