‘Ballot Bazaar’: Onuigbo Fires Back at Critics Over Disputed APC Primary, says party’s reputation tainted

A former member of the House of Representatives and aspirant for the Abia Central Senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, Rep. Sam Onuigbo, has called on those allegedly behind attacks against him to explain their roles in what he described as the “whimsical allocation of votes” during the party’s May 18 senatorial primary election.

Onuigbo alleged that recent revelations surrounding the disputed primary election had unsettled individuals responsible for what he termed a “ballot bazaar” in the aborted exercise, claiming that those involved were now worried that their alleged clandestine activities within the APC were being exposed.

The former lawmaker who was reacting to reports dismissing a petition submitted by some APC stakeholders in Abia Central Senatorial District challenging the conduct of the primary election, urged those behind the attacks to stop worsening what he described as the damage already done to the image and reputation of the APC in the South-East.

Earlier, a group identifying itself as leaders of the APC in Abia Central had petitioned the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, in a letter titled “Calculated Campaign of Falsehood,” accusing Onuigbo of making false allegations about irregularities in a bid to destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Onuigbo challenged the authors of the petition to explain what he called the “magic figures” allocated to the three contestants in the disputed primary election.

According to him, the APC National Working Committee should investigate how one candidate allegedly received 36,935 votes, while two others were allocated 11,457 and 5,833 votes respectively.

He further alleged that the primary process was hijacked, citing complaints by former Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, who reportedly petitioned the APC leadership after waiting throughout the day without any official arriving at her Osisioma Ngwa Ward 2 or anywhere within the local government area to conduct the exercise.

Onuigbo questioned how a senatorial district with about 56,860 registered party members could produce 36,935 votes for one candidate when, according to him, elections did not hold in most wards across the six local government areas in the district.

The former House of Representatives member lamented that the controversy had turned the APC in Abia State into a “laughing stock” instead of strengthening the party ahead of future elections.

He called on the leadership of the party to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the disputed primary and the reputational damage allegedly caused by those who hijacked the process for personal interests.