The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia South Senatorial District, Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jr., has rejected reports alleging that his name was substituted as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
In a statement personally signed, Erondu described the alleged substitution as unlawful and unconstitutional, insisting that he remains the duly nominated APC candidate for the Abia South senatorial seat.
The lawmaker, who currently represents Obingwa West Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, said he emerged winner of the APC senatorial primary election conducted on May 16, 2026, across the 65 electoral wards in the six local government areas of the district.
According to him, the primary election result was declared by the party’s National Working Committee in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Department of State Services, after which he was issued a Certified True Copy of the primary election results.
Erondu expressed concern over reports that his name had allegedly been replaced with that of Paul Ikonne, arguing that such an action would be contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
He maintained that under the law, a political party can only substitute a candidate in the event of death, voluntary withdrawal through a personally signed notice, or by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Declaring that he remains alive and has not withdrawn from the race, Erondu called on the APC National Working Committee and INEC to uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act in handling the party’s candidature for the Abia South Senatorial District.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the APC National Working Committee nor INEC had issued an official response to the allegations.
