NEWS
BREAKING NEWS: APC Replaces Abia South Senatorial Candidate, Swaps Ukwa East/West Reps Flagbearer in Major Candidate Shake-up
By @TheKELVINATOR, The Eyes Opener News | June 29, 2026
…as Prince Paul Ikonne Replaces Erondu Jr., Barr. Samuel Okezie Replaces Chris Nkwonta
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved sweeping changes to its list of National Assembly candidates, replacing the party’s candidates for the Abia South Senatorial District and the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The changes were contained in an official communication dated June 29, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), forwarding the APC’s final list of approved senatorial and House of Representatives candidates following the conclusion of the party’s primary election appeal process.
According to the party, the substitutions followed a comprehensive review of reports submitted by the Primary Election Appeal Committees, with the recommendations subsequently approved by the National Working Committee as the APC’s final position on the affected constituencies.
In Abia State, the most significant development is the replacement of the member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, who has been substituted with Chief Barrister Samuel Okezie as the party’s candidate for the constituency.
The APC also made a major change in the Abia South Senatorial District, where Erondu Uchenna Erondu was replaced with Prince Paul Ikonne as the party’s senatorial candidate.
The party stated that the revised list was forwarded to INEC in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended), and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for necessary action.
The latest development marks a significant political realignment within the APC in Abia State and is expected to generate intense political reactions among party stakeholders and supporters, with attention now shifting to the response of the affected aspirants and the implications for the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.