Crisis is brewing ‎in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State following calls by some party members to abandon the consensus formula adopted for selection of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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‎Reacting to the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-party Affairs, Comrade Sunday Nwambam, defended the adoption of consensus, describing it as a strategic and lawful approach aimed at preserving party unity and ensuring smooth emergence of candidates.
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‎In a statement, Nwambam said his attention had been drawn to outcomes and press releases from meetings held across the three senatorial zones to determine the method of selecting aspirants for elective positions.
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‎He noted that while party stakeholders have widely applauded Governor Francis Nwifuru for promoting inclusiveness in decision-making, his office has received inquiries over statements by some politicians advocating for direct primaries.
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‎He clarified that the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, had earlier affirmed that the party remains open to all recognized modes of primaries, emphasizing that credibility outweighs the method adopted.
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‎According to him, the party’s position is backed by provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, particularly Sections 84 to 88, which provide a more structured framework for candidate nomination while allowing political parties significant discretion through internal rules.
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‎Nwambam stressed that the APC’s preference for consensus is intended to minimize internal conflict, promote unity, and reduce the cost of elections.
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He insisted that consensus is not imposed but reached through agreement among stakeholders.
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‎He, however, expressed concern over what he described as “rebellious tendencies” by some politicians who, despite benefiting from party decisions in the past, are now opposing the consensus arrangement.
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‎Describing such actions as unhealthy for party cohesion, the governor’s aide called on all political actors in the state to respect the decision of stakeholders and support the consensus approach.
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‎He further urged politicians to refrain from inflammatory statements capable of destabilizing the state’s political atmosphere, noting that President Bola Tinubu had recently directed governors to oversee processes leading to the emergence of party flag bearers in their states.
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‎Nwambam maintained that Governor Nwifuru, as the party leader in the state, acted within his mandate and possesses the experience to guide the party towards victory in the forthcoming elections.
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‎He also advised aspirants not favored under the consensus arrangement to see it as a cost-saving mechanism rather than a setback.
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‎The aide commended the APC State Executive, led by Chief Stanley Okoroemegha, for what he described as a bold and decisive move in adopting the consensus method, expressing confidence that it would ensure a seamless and peaceful emergence of candidates.