Ebonyi State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) announced on Thursday that it is prepared to contest the 2027 general elections after the party’s primary in the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency produced former Minister of State for Health Chief Joseph Ekumankama as its flag‑bearer. The declaration was made at a solidarity gathering in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, chairman of the APC in Ebonyi, led the event, which celebrated Ekumankama’s emergence as the party’s candidate for the constituency. Emegha praised the former minister as “a man of good character, competence and the necessary political connections to attract meaningful development to the constituency.”
The chairman urged party stakeholders in the constituency to work collectively to secure Ekumankama’s victory, saying his emergence reflects “the will of God and the collective desire of the people of Edda.” He added that the primary process was guided by the party’s interests and the directive of Governor Francis Nwifuru, who remains the leader of the APC in Ebonyi State.
Emphasising his own role, Emegha stated that, as state chairman, he is bound to obey the governor’s instructions and has no personal interest in the contest for the party’s ticket. “Our governor remains the leader of APC in the state. As party chairman, I am expected to obey the governor at all times. So, whatever I did was in strict obedience to his directive, which he declared openly before everybody at the Ecumenical Centre during the Ebonyi South APC Stakeholders’ Meeting,” he said.
With the primary elections concluded, Emegha said the party’s focus has shifted to the upcoming general elections. He pledged to deploy his political influence and resources to ensure a “decisive victory” for the APC across the Edda Local Government Area and urged members to set aside any disagreements and work together for the success of all APC candidates.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
