A senior figure in Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikechukwu Martins Apugo, said on Saturday he would soon announce whether he will seek election to the Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency in Abia State in the 2027 general polls.
Apugo urged supporters to remain patient, saying he was still consulting widely before taking a decision.
“There have been calls from youth groups, advocacy organisations, constituents and political associates,” he told journalists during a media interaction in Umuahia, the state capital. “When the time is right, I will not hesitate to make my position known.”
He thanked supporters for their confidence in him, noting that he currently holds no elective office, and said his decision would be guided by consultations and personal conviction.
“In politics, you must consult broadly before determining your next move,” Apugo said. “It is not a decision to be taken in a hurry. Whatever decision I make regarding the calls to contest will be made public.”
Asked about the 2027 governorship race, Apugo said Abia State Governor Alex Otti would be difficult to defeat if he seeks re-election, citing what he described as strong performance across key sectors.
“With the level of work done in infrastructure, education, health and the civil service, it will be difficult for any candidate, from any party, to defeat Governor Otti in 2027,” he said.
Apugo dismissed comments attributed to a former Abia governor and current senator for Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, that Otti would serve only one term, saying such views did not reflect realities on the ground.
“Despite being a chieftain of the APC, my judgement is not beclouded by sentiments,” he said. “The truth must be told. Governor Otti has performed exceptionally.”
He pointed to improvements in urban order, road construction in Aba and Umuahia, civil service welfare and waste management, as well as the establishment of a bus terminal in Umuahia and progress on the Abia airport project.
“People will ask themselves what Abia was like before and what it is like now,” Apugo said. “If voters are satisfied with the governor’s performance, they will vote accordingly.”
He added that public support for Otti made it unlikely that the governor would be voted out in 2027.
“Abians will not want to go backwards,” Apugo said. “What they have seen so far will influence their decision at the polls in 2027.”
Apugo says Decision on 2027 House Race Imminent
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