Barely 12hours to the deadline for the submission of names of presidential, Senatorial and national assembly Candidates to the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Working Committee (NWC), is believed to have come under intense pressure to replace the party’s Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, Hon Sam Onuigbo.
In his place, a section of the party is said to be pushing for Chief Emeka Atuma, who ran for governorship ticket and lost. The governorship aspirant was not known to have picked Form to run for Senate.
Hon Onuigbo, a serving member of the House of Representatives, had emerged as the senatorial candidate following his victory at the Abia Central Senatorial primary having defeated his closest rival, Hon. Henry Ikoh 157-152 in an exercise that was monitored by INEC, and endorsed by the returning officer.
However, in a gross display of impunity, some leaders of the party in the state, are alleged to have mounted intense pressure on the NWC to have the candidate’s name substituted.
A source at the APC National secretariat disclosed that the Abia APC leaders are working with Chief Emma Enukwu, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South to upturn the result that is already with the INEC.
It was also gathered that the move which has attracted strong opposition from some members of the NWC who argued that the action will put the NWC in disrepute.
Commenting on the development, Hon Onuigbo said he is not aware of any threat to replace his name, stressing that the APC abhors impunity but, cautioned against anything that may discourage party faithful who turned out en mass in Umuahia to pick their favorite representative, not to mention possible legal implications of such high handed action.
