Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has petitioned the party’s national leadership, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged diversion of sensitive electoral materials meant for the party’s National Assembly primary elections in the state.
In a petition dated May 25, 2026, and addressed to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Abia APC State Working Committee accused Mr. Yusuf Muyideen Ahmed, an ICT staff member attached to the National Secretariat, of allegedly conspiring with a former Abia South Senatorial aspirant, Prince Paul Ikonne, to divert official result sheets designated for the conduct of the primaries.
The petition, signed by the Abia APC Chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, described the alleged action as electoral sabotage and a serious breach of the party’s internal democratic process.
According to the petition, the incident occurred ahead of the National Assembly primaries conducted in May. The state chapter alleged that Ahmed unlawfully removed sensitive election materials from the approved chain of custody and transferred them to an undisclosed location.
The petition referenced a viral video in which Prince Ikonne reportedly told the Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, that his vehicle was used to convey Ahmed after their arrival at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, on May 15, 2026. The video allegedly showed Ikonne acknowledging that Ahmed was in possession of sensitive electoral materials outside approved procedures.
Abia APC further claimed that preliminary security investigations linked the diverted materials to an alleged attempt to produce alternative election results capable of influencing the outcome of the primaries. The petition also raised concerns over alleged financial inducements reportedly connected to the operation.
“The unauthorised diversion of electoral materials from the approved chain of custody was not merely an administrative lapse but a calculated attempt to compromise the credibility of the party’s primary election process,” the petition stated.
The state chapter noted that concerns over the missing materials compelled the National Assembly Primaries Committee, led by Erasmus Cishak, to request a fresh set of result sheets from the National Working Committee after the original materials were allegedly compromised.
Following the request, the APC National Working Committee approved and released new security-sealed electoral materials, which were subsequently used for the conduct of the senatorial primaries in the state.
The petition accused Ahmed of actions amounting to conspiracy, electoral misconduct and violation of party regulations, and called for disciplinary measures as well as criminal investigation, where necessary.
Among its demands, the Abia APC urged the national leadership to dismiss the official from service if found culpable, refer the matter to law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible prosecution, and conduct a comprehensive security audit of the ICT department at the APC National Secretariat to prevent future breaches.
The party warned that failure to address the allegations decisively could undermine confidence in its internal electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general election.
Despite the controversy, the APC National Assembly senatorial primaries were successfully conducted on May 18, 2026, following the provision of fresh materials. The exercise produced Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr. as the party’s candidate for Abia South Senatorial District, while Senator Orji Uzor Kalu emerged as the candidate for Abia North Senatorial District and Hon. Emeka Atuma secured the ticket for Abia Central Senatorial District.
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