The state APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, issued the warning on Monday in Abakaliki after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting of the party and the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the party’s permanent secretariat in the state capital.
Emegha said the directive followed a clear position taken by Governor Francis Nwifuru to prevent avoidable litigations that could undermine the credibility of the local government elections.
According to him, all political appointees under the state government who wish to contest must resign their positions at least 30 days before the primaries.
“The governor has made it very clear that if you are a public servant under his appointment and you want to contest, you must resign within 30 days to the primary election.
"Anybody who failed to resign on or before December 20 is not qualified to contest," he said.
He explained that the measure was aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency and strict compliance with electoral guidelines, stressing that the party would not condone any action capable of throwing up post-election court cases.
The APC chairman also disclosed that the SEC meeting approved key decisions ahead of the party’s congresses and primaries, which are scheduled to begin in January.
He said the congresses would start from the ward level and progress through the local government, zonal and state levels, culminating in the national convention in March.
Emegha noted that the party adopted Option A4 and the delegate system for the conduct of the congresses and primaries, adding that all procedures must be in line with the APC constitution and ratified by the appropriate party organs.
On the cost of nomination forms, he said the party maintained the ₦25 million fee for local government chairmanship aspirants, but resolved to limit the number of forms sold to two or three aspirants per local government area in order to manage internal competition and promote unity.
He further emphasized the need for cohesion within the party, noting that while disagreements are natural, they must be resolved through dialogue and consensus.
“We may disagree because we are human beings, but the most important thing is to come together and agree on a common front that will benefit everyone,” he said.
Emegha added that the SEC meeting ended peacefully, describing the APC in Ebonyi as a disciplined party committed to transparency, internal democracy and sustained political dominance in the state.
