No less than four serving members of the House of Representatives from Imo State have lost their bids for return tickets during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries held across the state on Saturday, ahead of the general elections in 2027.
The primaries, held across the 10 federal constituencies in the state using the Option A4 voting system, produced a combination of returning lawmakers and fresh candidates.
Matthew Nwogu of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Miriam Odinaka Onuoha of Okigwe South, Harrison Anozie Nwadike of Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele Federal Constituency and Emeka Martins Chinedu of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte, were among the lawmakers who failed to clinch the party’s ticket.
With this exercise, several new faces emerged as APC candidates for the House of Representatives elections.
Among those who secured tickets include Ngozi Pat-Ekeji for Aboh/Ngor-Okpala, Chukwudi Anyanwuocha for Ahiazu/Ezinihitte, Sandra Inyama for Ideato North/South and Canice Moore Nwachukwu Omeogo for Orlu/Orsu/Oru East.
Others are; Jonas Okeke for Okigwe South, Uchenna Agasu for Okigwe North, Dibiagwu Eugene for Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru-West, Cosmos Maduba for Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu/Njaba, Akarachi Amadi for Mbaitoli/Ikeduru (Mbaike) and Tochi Okere for Owerri Federal Constituency.
Ahead of the primaries, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had assured party members and stakeholders that the process would reflect the party’s zoning arrangements and principles of equity.
Speaking during an APC stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Owerri on Thursday, Uzodinma said the party would not impose candidates on members.
He stressed that the APC would respect existing zoning agreements across constituencies and political blocs to maintain fairness and stability within the state chapter of the party.
According to the governor, although every party member had the constitutional right to contest elections, the APC also had a duty to preserve internal understandings that had helped sustain unity in the party.
Uzodinma explained that the party adopted the Option A4 voting system to guarantee transparency, credibility and wider participation during the primaries.
“APC would adopt the Option A4 system for its primaries, saying the method would guarantee transparency, credibility and wider participation of party members in the emergence of candidates for various elective positions,” he said.
The governor disclosed that nine aspirants purchased nomination forms for the senatorial primaries, while 107 others obtained forms for House of Assembly contests across the state.
He also stated that women and youths would receive priority consideration during the primaries in line with global recommendations on inclusive governance, while noting that such measures would not disadvantage male aspirants.
Uzodinma further urged aspirants and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and accept the outcome of the exercise in the spirit of sportsmanship.
Going by him, every election process naturally produces both winners and losers.
Leave a comment