UMUAHIA — The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia South Senatorial District, Chief Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr, has dismissed reports of an alleged substitution of his candidature for the 2027 general election, describing the move as unlawful and without legal effect.
In a statement, Erondu said he remains the party’s duly nominated candidate, having won the APC direct primary held on May 18, 2026, across the 65 electoral wards in the district. He noted that the exercise was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies, and was conducted in line with the Electoral Act and APC guidelines.
“I was officially declared winner and returned as the APC candidate by the Primary Election Committee constituted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC),” he said.
The lawmaker, who represents Obingwa West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, said the APC Appeal Committee upheld his victory after reviewing petitions from aggrieved aspirants. He added that INEC issued a Certified True Copy of the 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 warned that any substitution would violate the Electoral Act, 2026, and the APC Constitution.
“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 I have not withdrawn my candidature.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 stated.
He urged the APC National Working Committee to respect the outcome of the primary election and called on INEC to rely on its certified records confirming his nomination. Erondu also appealed to his supporters to remain calm, ignore what he described as misinformation, and continue supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
