Tension has continued to rise among members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State over the party’s House of Representatives ticket for the 2027 election.
The dispute follows the May 16, 2026 APC primary election, which has remained controversial despite the party’s recent confirmation that the incumbent lawmaker, Chris Nkwonta, emerged as the winner.
The Abia State chapter of the APC had on July 1, 2026, reaffirmed Nkwonta’s victory, dismissing claims that another candidate won the exercise.
However, on Sunday, a large group of APC members from the oil producing areas of Ukwa East and Ukwa West gathered at Oforji Road, off Port Harcourt Road, Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area, insisting that the party’s House of Representatives ticket was won by Samuel Nwogu, former Chairman of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ASOPADEC.
The pro Nwogu supporters, who displayed placards during the gathering, included members of the New Ukwa Progressive Initiative, NUPI, Asa Development Union, ADA, Renewed Hope Ambassadors and other indigenes of the constituency.
Speaking through Akanwa Franklin, Boniface Nwaigwe and other leaders, the group alleged that the House of Representatives seat had been occupied by one section of the constituency for 20 consecutive years.
While commending President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, for promoting fairness and equity, the leaders warned against actions capable of threatening peace in the oil producing communities.
Meanwhile, another group of APC leaders loyal to Chris Nkwonta has maintained that the incumbent lawmaker remains the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
The pro Nkwonta group, which held a press conference in Akwete, Ukwa East Local Government Area, on Tuesday, rejected any move to recognise Samuel Nwogu as the party’s candidate.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the APC Chairman in Ukwa East Local Government Area, Chiwuike Ekeke, and the APC Chairman in Ukwa West Local Government Area, Success Enyinnaya, among others, the group insisted that Nkwonta won the primary election.
They stated that Nkwonta’s victory was officially announced by the Chairman of the Abia State National Assembly Primary Elections Committee constituted by the National Working Committee, Erasmus Cishak.
The group also maintained that his candidacy had neither been withdrawn nor substituted ahead of the 2027 general elections.
