Erondu to APC: Respect Primary Result, Don’t Substitute My Candidature

Abia South APC candidate, Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr., has rejected reports that his candidature for the 2027 senatorial election has been substituted, describing the alleged move as unlawful, unconstitutional and without legal effect.

Erondu, who represents Obingwa-West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, said he remains the duly nominated candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, having won the party’s direct primary conducted on May 18, 2026.

In a statement personally signed by him, Erondu said the primary was conducted across the 65 electoral wards in the six local government areas of Abia South and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies.

He said he was declared winner and returned as the party’s candidate by the Primary Election Committee constituted by the APC National Working Committee.

According to Erondu, petitions filed by some aspirants challenging the outcome were subsequently reviewed by the party’s Appeal Committee, which he said unanimously affirmed his victory.

He further disclosed that INEC issued a Certified True Copy of the APC Abia South Senatorial Primary Election Report on June 30, 2026, confirming him as the party’s candidate.

Reacting to reports that his name was being replaced with that of Prince Paul Ikonne, Erondu argued that such a move would contravene the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.

Citing Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the lawmaker said substitution is only permissible in cases of death, voluntary withdrawal by the candidate through a personally signed notice, or a court order affecting the nomination.

Erondu declared: “I am alive. I have not withdrawn my candidature. I have never signed or submitted any notice withdrawing my candidature to the All Progressives Congress.”

He therefore urged the APC National Working Committee and other relevant organs of the party to uphold the outcome of the primary, respect the decisions of the Primary and Appeal Committees, and preserve the integrity of the party’s internal democratic process.

The lawmaker also appealed to INEC to be guided by its official records, particularly the Certified True Copy of the June 30 primary election report, which he said confirms his emergence.

Erondu called on his supporters, APC members and other stakeholders to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, urging them not to be distracted by what he described as rumours and misinformation.

He expressed confidence that truth, justice, due process and the rule of law would ultimately prevail.