APC Sets January 25 for Ebonyi Local Elections Primaries

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has announced that its primaries for the upcoming local government chairmanship and councilorship elections will be held on January 25, 2026. State chairman Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha disclosed the date to journalists in Abakaliki after a State Executive Council meeting on Monday.

Emegha explained that the primary election process will begin earlier in January and that political appointees who wish to contest must resign in accordance with Governor Francis Nwifuru’s directive issued last month. Public servants appointed by the governor must step down 30 days before the primaries, i.e., by December 26, 2025, to be eligible. Those who miss the deadline will be disqualified.

The APC chairman also announced that membership revalidation will start once the party receives the required registration code, assuring members that transparency will guide all party activities. He further revealed that construction of a new APC secretariat in the state has begun, with an expected completion time 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 enjoys total political control in the state. All opposition lawmakers have joined the party, including 171 ward councillors, 13 local government chairmen, 24 House of Assembly members, six National Assembly members, and three senators. Emegha confirmed that the last remaining opposition federal lawmaker, 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 Ebonyi, as they will shape the leadership and direction of local governments. With the APC’s current dominance, the contests will be closely watched, and the party’s pledge to transparency and fair processes will be tested. As the state prepares for these elections, APC leadership will play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and democratic process.