Even as two factions of the APC, Abia chapter of the party claim peace have returned to the party and they are now united under Kingsley Ononogbu as State Chairman, another crack have appeared in the party with governorship hopefuls - Ikechi Emenike and Uche Ogah laying claims to the APC Abia governorship ticket.

Trouble started with the indecisive position of the party's NWC whether to hold a direct or indirect primary election in the State

Dailyledger.com.ng reports that  APC National Secretariat in a letter  to INEC dated 25th May, 2022, with reference  APC/NHDCINEC/19/022/61 the party adopted direct primaries mode of election in Abia, Benue and Osun States. 

Based on that letter, the Uche Ogah group conducted its governorship primary at the party's secretariat at Azikiwe Road Umuahia where Ogah emerged as the flagbearer

But Emenike also conducted an indirect primary election  at Old Chidiebere Motor Park, Umuagu, Umuahia, where he emerged as the governorship candidate of the party

Emenike’s emergence also as a governorship candidate brought confusion which could only be settled by the APC headquarters standing by its directive.

But after the primary election, APC has written a second letter to INEC Chairman which was acknowledged on June 16, claiming that  it committed an error in its earlier letter by including Abia among states to conduct direct primary

The letter, signed by Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, National Chairman and Secretary respectively, said Abia State was to adopt the indirect Mode for its governorship primary.

The U-turn by the national headquarters of the party appeared dubious as the letter was acknowledged by INEC on 16th June — two weeks after the expiration of the deadline for guber primary to be concluded –  The letter was dated 26th May.

By letters of the electoral Act as amended, INEC would not recognize Emenike who was elected through indirect primary, and indirect primary election can only be held where there are elected delegates but Abia APC did not conduct any congress to elect delegates.

This was confirmed in a letter signed by Ayogu Obinna Luke, of Abia INEC to the Commission’s Headquarters which was acknowledged on June 2

The letter informed INEC  that there was no delegates election by Abia APC, and no delegates list to conduct an indirect primary, adding that it was the reason why the national headquarters of the party recommended the direct primary to be adopted for all primary elections in the state.

On the other hand,  APC did not monitor the direct primary that produced Ogah, a situation that presents another legal dilemma should the party agree to field him.

As it stands both Emenike and Ogah are holding on to the claims, though it appears the APC NWC is leaning towards Emenike which controls the State chapter recognised by it