The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has announced that its primaries for the forthcoming local government chairmanship and councilorship elections will take place on January 25, 2026. This decision was made known by the state chairman of the party, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, while addressing journalists in Abakaliki after a State Executive Council meeting on Monday.
Emegha stated that the primary election process will commence earlier in January, with political appointees who intend to contest the elections required to resign in line with Governor Francis Nwifuru’s directive issued last month. He emphasized that public servants under the governor’s appointment must resign 30 days prior to the primary election, which would be December 26, 2025, to be eligible to contest. Those who fail to meet this deadline will be disqualified from participating in the election.
The APC chairman also announced that membership revalidation will begin once the party receives the necessary registration code, assuring members that transparency will guide all party activities. Furthermore, Emegha revealed that the construction of a new APC secretariat in the state has commenced, with an expected completion timeline of six months. The new secretariat is reportedly larger than the national secretariat, underscoring the party’s commitment to maintaining its dominant position in Ebonyi State.
Currently, the APC holds total political control in the state, with all opposition lawmakers from the state now members of the party. This includes 171 out of 171 ward councillors, 13 out of 13 local government chairmen, 24 out of 24 House of Assembly members, six National Assembly members, and three out of three senators. Emegha also confirmed that the last remaining opposition federal lawmaker in the state, Iduma Igariwey, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC and has registered in his Itim 001 Ward in Afikpo.
The upcoming primaries and elections are significant for the state, as they will shape the leadership and direction of local governments in Ebonyi. With the APC’s current dominance, the elections are likely to be closely watched, and the party’s commitment to transparency and fair processes will be put to the test. As the state prepares for these elections, the APC’s leadership will be crucial in ensuring a smooth and democratic process.
