Candidates for the right federal constituencies in Abia have emerged following the conduct of primaries on Saturday.
Announcing the results, the Chairman of the Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Primaries Committee, Erasmus Tishak, named the winners to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu for Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Nkiru Onyejeocha for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Uzo Azubuike for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, and Rt. Hon. Chinedu Enyinnaya Orji for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency.
Others are Udo Alozie for Ugwunagbo/Osisioma/Obingwa Federal Constituency, Chris Nkwonta for Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Uzoma Ihuka for Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency and Ikenna Ukwa for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency.
Speaking after the exercise Tishak lauded the peaceful conduct of the primaries, disclosing that results from different federal constituencies came in smoothly.
He further thanked aspirants and party members for their orderly conduct throughout the process and urged those who lost the primaries to accept the outcome in good faith and remain committed to the party.
Speaking earlier while interacting with Newsmen, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, expressed gratitude to APC members in Bende Federal Constituency for endorsing him to seek a third term in the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Speaker noted that the overwhelming support he received from party members was a demonstration of confidence in his leadership and representation since assuming office.
Ben Kalu
According to him, no aspirant contested against him because the people desired continuity and wanted him to complete ongoing projects and legislative efforts attracted to the constituency through the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The Deputy Speaker assured constituents that he would continue to represent them selflessly through quality lawmaking, effective representation, and attracting federal government projects to communities across Bende Federal Constituency.
He said his experience and current position in the National Assembly place him in a better position to attract greater development to the constituency, stressing that replacing an experienced lawmaker with a newcomer would amount to slowing down progress.
Kalu also reaffirmed support for the policies and reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that the APC lawmakers would continue to provide legislative backing for programmes aimed at improving governance and national development.
On concerns about internal disagreements within the APC ahead of the elections, Kalu said the party leadership had earlier engaged stakeholders and made it clear that there would be no automatic tickets for aspirants.
He explained that aspirants were advised to test their popularity through either consensus arrangements or delegate primaries, adding that transparency and accountability remained central to the APC process in Abia State.
The Deputy Speaker expressed confidence that APC would perform strongly in the general elections, insisting that his track record, projects, and relationship with the people would speak in his favour during campaigns.
