Ebonyi APC Fallout: Nwifuru Moves to Reconcile Aggrieved Aspirants

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has assured aggrieved stakeholders and aspirants of reconciliation, especially those who lost in the just-concluded primaries for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate under the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nwifuru made this known on Thursday at Amaechera Primary School, Agbaja, in Izzi Local Government Area while addressing journalists after the APC governorship primary.
The governor, who was the party’s sole candidate and emerged victorious to secure the APC ticket for re-election in 2027, said consultations and engagements with party faithful and defeated aspirants had already commenced.
According to him, reconciliation and inclusiveness remain critical to sustaining unity within the ruling party and strengthening its chances ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Definitely, we are going to have stakeholders’ meetings. We have started already, but we are going to begin afresh, especially by carrying out extensive consultations with our leaders, party stakeholders, and also working closely with the aspirants who lost.
“It is obvious they will not feel happy, but it is one of those things and part of the process. Democracy is in action. Someone can lose, while another person wins,” he said.
The governor, however, maintained that the Option A4 system adopted by the ruling party for its primaries remains the most transparent and democratic method of electing leaders during elections.
Nwifuru argued that delegate-based primaries are often influenced and manipulated through financial inducement.
“When you come to what they call delegate elections, it is almost a case of the highest bidder. But with Option A4, once people choose the right candidate, that person will emerge victorious during the election.
“But once you impose a candidate, nobody will come out to support such a person. That is why the direct primary system is one of the best options in elections.
“If you look at the history of the Social Democratic Party and several other political parties before and after the Second Republic, Option A4 remains one of the best forms of election. You can witness it today, if you lose, you see it; if you win, you also see it and feel satisfied with the outcome,” he said.
The governor further attributed the massive turnout of party members and supporters during the exercise to the achievements of his administration within three years in office, particularly in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and human capital development.
He explained that his primary reason for joining politics was to improve the welfare of the masses.
“And like I said earlier, my major reason for joining politics is to serve and provide for the masses. That is why it was captured in my manifesto as the ‘People’s Charter of Needs.’
“So, we will be more decisive in taking actions, more focused, and more hardworking. These are the best things democracy can offer,” Nwifuru assured.
However, the governor was on Thursday night officially declared the winner of the exercise, a development that confirms he will fly the APC governorship flag in the 2027 general elections in Ebonyi State.
Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise, observed a massive turnout in several wards visited.