A fresh wave of discontent is sweeping through the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as frustrated aspirants in the 2024 local government elections have accused the party leadership and the state government of deception, exclusion, and abandonment.
What began as muted murmurs of disaffection has now snowballed into a full-blown crisis threatening to unsettle the ruling party ahead of the 2026 council elections.
The aggrieved aspirants alleged that despite repeated assurances by Governor Francis Nwifuru that the 2024 polls would be anchored on internal democracy and grassroots consensus, the process was hijacked by vested interests who imposed preferred candidates across the 13 local government areas.
“We were deceived into believing the process would be free and fair. The governor said no candidate would be imposed, yet the incumbents were returned without contest,” one of the aspirants told journalists in Abakaliki.
Many of the aspirants, who reportedly purchased interest and nomination forms running into millions of naira, lamented that they are now trapped in debt after borrowing heavily to fund their campaigns based on assurances from party leaders.
“I spent about ₦25.5 million, excluding logistics, because I wanted to serve my people. We were told to go and campaign, only for the party to anoint incumbents. Now we can’t even feed our families,” another aspirant said, calling for a refund of the fees paid to the party.
Political observers warned that the growing sense of betrayal could become a major test of loyalty within the Ebonyi APC if urgent reconciliation measures are not taken. Analysts also cautioned that the lingering grievances, if ignored, may erode party cohesion and weaken its electoral strength ahead of the 2026 polls.
Beyond the aspirants’ outcry, several communities and political blocs across the state are demanding inclusion and fairness in the next round of local government elections.
It would be recalled that during the last election, in Onicha Local Government Area, for instance, the Ukawu community has accused successive administrations of marginalizing them since the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996. Their spokesperson, Dr. Elom John Elom, likened the community’s plight to “political orphanage” and urged Governor Nwifuru to end decades of exclusion.
Similarly, in Ezza South, a youth movement under the Concerned Youths of Ezza South endorsed philanthropist Mr. Sunday Nwali, presenting him with a ₦25 million cheque to support his chairmanship ambition. The group described Nwali as “a symbol of hope” and a model of grassroots leadership signaling a possible realignment of youth forces in the area.
In Ezza North, stakeholders have thrown their weight behind Hon. Mark Okechukwu Mgbada, who enjoys strong support from elders and traditional rulers. His emergence has further intensified local rivalries as political blocs jostle for influence.
Governor Nwifuru, who came to power in 2023 on the mantra of the People’s Charter of Needs, now faces a delicate test of leadership to restoring faith in the APC’s internal democracy and reconciling aggrieved party members.
His reputation as a reform-minded leader who vowed to end imposition and promote fairness at the grassroots is on the line.
Observers insisted that the governor must act swiftly to douse the rising tension, compensate aggrieved aspirants, and reassert discipline within the party to avert a repeat of the 2024 “imposition saga.”
Failure to do so, they warned, could fracture the APC’s structure in Ebonyi, embolden opposition forces, and diminish the goodwill Governor Nwifuru currently enjoys among party faithful and the electorate.
As the countdown to the 2026 local government elections begins, it is clear that the Ebonyi APC stands on a fragile bridge of loyalty and how Governor Nwifuru navigates this storm may well define the party’s political future in the state.
