Outrage in Ahiazu-Ezinihitte over  alleged substitution of APC House of Reps primary election winner

Maureen Aguta

Tension has risen high in Ahiazu /Ezinihitte Federal Constituency over alleged move by the State APC leadership to substitute the winner of on the May 16th House of Representatives primary election which their illustrious son, Hon Barr. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha was overwhelmingly elected the flag bearer of the party for the Ahiazu- Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.

Mpam apex socio-cultural organisation, Mpam Elites Forum (MEF), had strongly condemned the sad news which was said to have emanated from the APC State Secretariat in Owerri that the name of the rightful winner of the May 16th Ahiazu-Ezinihitte Federal Constituency primary election, Hon Barr. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha is about to be substituted with the name of a two time representative of the Constituency from the Ahiara Clan in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Rt Hon Nnanna Igbokwe.

The association in a statement on Thursday, made available to Advocacy Times, described the reported rumour as a dangerous turn of events as it would upturn the perceived good deed of the party which righted the wrong done to the Ekwerazu Clan for about 23 years.

The Ekwerazu Clan has only produced a House of Representatives member for four years in the Constituency since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule.

The Legal Adviser of MEF, Barr Augustine Chinaka, in the statement, called on the party to ensure that the rumour does not turn out to be true as it will be a very wrong signal to the public that external influence has damaged internal democracy in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, if the rumour turns out to be true, it will confirm that the party does not only disrespect the performing leader of the party in Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma CON on the outcome of the party’s internal election, but also confirm to any doubting Tomas that APC in Imo State does not have any respect for the collective will of its members and is willing to subvert that will to satisfy the desires of a ‘cabal’.

Barr Chinaka further said that if the rumour turns out to be true, not only will it hurt the chances of the party in the 2027 elections in the Ahiazu-Ezinihitte Federal Constituency for imposing an unpopular candidate on the people, it would also deepen the marginalisation wound on the Ekwerazu Clan which is rightfully insisting that it is their turn to produce the House of Reps member for the constituency in 2027.

Also speaking on the ugly development, the Global Secretary of MEF, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri expressed confidence on Barr. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha ‘s victory in the  APC party primary election for Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.

He described it as a watershed in the political journey of the Mpam Ward and the Ekwerazu Clan. He added that the mandate is a people’s mandate.

 He further disclosed that Barr Anyanwuocha emerged through a free, fair, credible and transparent party primary election, saying “any attempt by the party to go ahead with the alleged substitution will be counter productive.

 “It would also rubbish the rotational agreement between Ezinihitte LGA and Ahiazu LGA. Again why go against the will of the party members by imposing on them and the entire residents of the constituency somebody rejected at the poll. We are keeping our fingers crossed, hope that the party at the national level will not allow this travesty of justice to stand.”

“Substituting  the man holding the popular mandate with an unpopular candidate like Nnanna Igbokwe will not only affect the rotational agreement rather it will affect the chances of the President and senatorial candidates in 2027 general election,” Ogbuokiri stated.

 Advocacy Times reports that an eye witness to the APC party primary election in Ahiazu-Ezinihitte Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Charles Ogbata (Ohazurumee 1) of Mpam Ancient Kingdom affirmed that the election was peacefully conducted on May 16, 2026 in the 24 Wards of the Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency. He further confirmed to this newspaper that Barr. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha defeated Hon Nnanna Igbokwe and other contestants to emerge victorious .

 According to him the election was transparently conducted that most of the have already congratulated the winner, Barr. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha.

Meanwhile, the Global Leader of MEF, Royal Nze Chukwuemeka Okeke has advised the constituents to remain peaceful and law abiding, saying the state and the national leadership of the APC are wise enough to take the right decision, so they are expected to allow the mandate of the people to stand.