An All Progressives Congress group in Akwa Ibom State have called for unity of purpose and determination among members of the party to ensure it secures the presidency under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors for President Bola Tinubu noted that the APC in Akwa Ibom remains committed to internal democracy, peace and progress, expressing satisfaction with APC stakeholders in the state for the conduct of the primaries, which it noted was peaceful.

The State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Obong Prince Ikim, appreciated the APC leadership in the state, describing the reported atmosphere of unity, decorum and democratic maturity during the party primaries as a clear reflection of Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

He noted that the peaceful APC primary election in the state sends a message of hope to Nigerians that the APC remains committed to internal democracy, peace and progress.

“This peaceful conduct strengthens our resolve as Renewed Hope Ambassadors to intensify grassroots mobilisations and sustain momentum towards delivering victory for the party in the coming elections,” part of the message read.

Prince Ikim further sued for unity of purpose among party faithful, saying, “Let us continue to work together, united in purpose, as we advance the vision of a prosperous, secured and inclusive Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has clarified that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, is not her godfather but her principal.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Yesufu also said she was never a member of the Labour Party but supported Obi because of his perceived empathy, patriotism and commitment to Nigeria.

According to her, she was formerly a member of the African Democratic Congress before moving to the Nigerian Democratic Congress.

The activist also said she intends to take her advocacy into politics, stressing that her priority as a lawmaker would be to hold the executive accountable.

She noted that if elected into the Senate to represent the Federal Capital Territory, she would not support what she described as frivolous loan requests from the executive arm of government, regardless of who occupies the presidency.

She said, “I don’t have a godfather. Peter Obi is not my godfather. He is my principal.

“First of all, I was never in the Labour Party, and I think I’ve said this repeatedly. I don’t know whether I need to put it on my phone. I was a supporter of Mr Peter Obi.

“I was a member of the African Democratic Congress, and from there I moved down to the Nigerian Democratic Congress.

“I gave my words to Peter Obi, and I see him right now as that person who has empathy, who is patriotic, and who cares enough about Nigeria for it to work for Nigerians. 

“I want someone who gets into office and I don’t need to keep making demands, you understand. 

“I’m taking advocacy and activism into politics because, for me, as a lawmaker, if I get voted in, by the grace of God, my number one business is holding the executive accountable. 

“You can’t come as a president, Mr Peter Obi, being the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cannot just come to the Senate with frivolous, you know, application for loans, and I, Aisha Yesufu, is representing FCT.”

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Abia Central Senatorial District, have denounced the Senatorial primary in the zone, saying they will not accept the reported farcical display of brigandage as the will of the people.

In a letter of protest to the national leadership of the APC, titled “Irregularities, Brigandage, and Breach of Electoral Process in Abia Central Senatorial Primary, the stakeholders said it was painful that a few individuals hijacked the process and denied party faithful the opportunity to nominate their representatives. 

The protesters, led by Uche Onyejekwe and Mrs Ego Nwamuo, recalled that when the direct primary option was chosen for the nomination of candidates for the Abia Central Senatorial Zone of Abia State, they heaved a sigh of relief as party faithful, believing that at last they had an opportunity to have a say in how their flag bearers would emerge for the 2027 general election.

However, the stakeholders expressed regret, saying, “We regret to inform you that the party lost a golden opportunity to advertise its commitment to internal democracy and citizen inclusivity. At the end of what would have been a day for celebration of plurality, it became obvious that some desperate and overzealous politicians who insist on the old ways of impunity and gangster strategies hijacked the process and allocated votes, even in wards where no actual balloting took place.

“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly appeal to your good offices to investigate the breach of process and illegal exclusion of party faithful in the Abia Central Senatorial Primary Election of May 18, 2026.

“We are confident that a diligent investigation of this claim will warrant the review of the outcome of the primary and a repeat of the process in areas with no evidence of public participation,” the aggrieved protesters stated.

The protesters further disclosed that no member of the Seven-man APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, INEC officials, and security personnel arrived in most wards, and in some local governments, stressing that APC members were surprised to hear that results were later announced with various fictitious figures allocated to candidates as if a transparent exercise had taken place. 

They added, “We are convinced and make bold to say that there was a predetermined outcome from the beginning, given that figures were allegedly written and allocated behind closed doors. The confusion deepened when Hon. Emeka Atumah was eventually announced as the winner of the primary with outrageous and bewildering figures.

“It was surprising that such figures could be allocated when it was quite evident that there was no semblance of an election in most wards. We demand video evidence from anybody who would claim otherwise. Because, from Oloko Ward 2, Usaka Ward, Osisioma Wards 2, 3, 8, and 9, and Okporo Ahaba Ward 1, and most other wards, there is an abundance of evidence to show that party members who gathered very early, waited throughout the day, without any accreditation, officials or voting. 

“The only thing we heard was that some already prepared results were announced to the public by one Hon Thomas Nkoro, who was not a member of the Seven-man Committee from the APC Headquarters, Abuja. We humbly invite the National Leadership of our great party to cross-check if any Thomas Nkoro was sent to announce the results of a primary election that did not hold,” the protesters demanded. 

The protesters said that party faithful across various wards in Abia Central Senatorial District are prepared to testify in person and attest that no primary election was held in their areas, particularly: OLOKO WARD 2, Usaka ward in Ikwuano L.G.A; Ward 2 Osisioma LGA; Ntighauzo primary school; Okporo Ahaba ward 1; Osisioma Ngwa Ward 8.

The stakeholders prayed the leadership of the APC to apply its discretionary powers to fish out the perpetrators of the confusion for necessary sanctions and resolve the impasse in the best interest of the party.