The All Progressives Congress in Umuahia North successfully conducted its ward congresses across Abia State on Wednesday, in a smooth and well-organized exercise.
Speaking during the event, the Chairman of the APC Ward and Local Government Congress Committee, Emmanuel Goar, assured that the committee would fully comply with the harmonisation directive and carry out transparent congresses that genuinely reflect the will of party stakeholders.
The congresses were closely monitored by Goar, who led a delegation from the party’s National Working Committee. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also present at various wards to observe the proceedings.
After overseeing the exercise, Goar expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct and organisation of the congresses. He praised the level of participation and enthusiasm among members, describing it as a strong sign of the party’s growing influence in the state.
“With what I have seen on the ground, I have no doubt that Abia State is APC. With the determination of the members I have seen here today, APC in Abia State will record a massive victory for President Tinubu in 2027,” he stated.
Stanley Ohajuruka also commended party members for the impressive turnout across the wards. He thanked the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and all stakeholders in the state for their commitment to ensuring a smooth and credible congress.
Ohajuruka congratulated those who emerged victorious in their wards and reminded them of the responsibilities expected of them as grassroots leaders. He emphasized that ward executives play a critical role in the party’s success and must work diligently to secure victory for President Tinubu and other APC candidates at the ward level in the 2027 elections.
The ward congress represents an important step in APC’s internal democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The process is set to continue on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with Local Government Congresses scheduled across Abia State.
Earlier on Wednesday, before the ward congresses, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu reiterated that APC adopted harmonisation for its ward and local government congresses to promote unity and cohesion within the party. Addressing members at the Renewed Hope Partners office in Umuahia, Kalu noted that the decision was in line with agreements reached by the party leadership under President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as a committed democrat and father of the party.
According to Kalu, harmonisation promotes inclusiveness by allowing all stakeholders to have a voice in selecting leaders from the ward to the state level. “APC belongs to every member; nobody is bigger than the party. The party is sovereign. But in the spirit of continuing the cohesion that exists in our party at the moment, there is no need to hold any other type of congress than the one which strengthens our unity — a congress of harmonisation,” he said.
He further explained, “Harmonisation is where stakeholders are given a sense of belonging in deciding who will lead from their ward to their local government, as well as the state, where everybody is given a sense of importance and relevance, making it clear that no one person owns the party. Not Benjamin Kalu, not anybody. That is the vision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When I met with him, he said, ‘I can’t even say my party; I like saying our party.’”
Kalu also disclosed that, as a member of the party’s NEC and caucus, it was agreed that no parallel processes or multiple forms would be allowed to prevent conflicts. He added that any deviations would require swift intervention by the National Chairman and the National Working Committee.
He concluded by noting that resolving the earlier impasse paved the way for his return to Abia to oversee the implementation of the harmonised congresses, a process aimed at returning the party’s ownership to grassroots members.
