The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia South Senatorial District, Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jr., has rejected reports alleging that his name has been 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 senatorial district.
The lawmaker, who 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 Abia South Senatorial District.
According to him, the primary election result was declared by the APC 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 on June 30, 2026.
Reacting to reports that his name had been replaced with Paul Ikonne, Erondu argued that such action contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
He cited Section 33 of the Electoral Act, which provides that 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Declaring that he remains alive and has not withdrawn from the race, Erondu called on the APC National Working Committee and INEC to uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act and protect his mandate.
The controversy follows the earlier announcement by the Abia State chapter of the APC naming Erondu as the party’s candidate for the Abia South Senatorial District election, where he is expected to contest against Labour Party candidate, Enyinnaya Abaribe.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC National Working Committee, INEC and Paul Ikonne had not issued any official response to the claims.
