The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Emeka Atuma, has stepped up efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots structure ahead of the 2027 general election, following a meeting with former APC House of Assembly aspirants from across the senatorial district.
Speaking in an interview with ABN TV shortly after the meeting, Atuma described the former aspirants as important stakeholders whose political structures, followership and grassroots influence remain crucial to the party’s electoral prospects.
The APC senatorial candidate said the meeting was convened to bring the stakeholders fully into the senatorial campaign and reassure them of their relevance to the party despite not securing tickets during the recently concluded primaries.
According to Atuma, the APC must approach the general election with the principle of “no victor, no vanquished,” stressing that those who contested but did not emerge as candidates remain valuable members of the party.
“These people standing with me here are great stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress within Abia Central. They contested for various state constituencies in our party and were not the ones who secured the tickets. However, they remain very solid within the party,” Atuma said.
He noted that the former aspirants command significant followership within their respective constituencies, making their involvement important as the party expands its mobilisation across Abia Central.
Atuma said he considered it imperative to engage them personally and make it clear that his senatorial ambition should not be regarded as an individual project.
“I consider it imperative that I meet with them today and reassure them that our senatorial contest is not for Emeka Atuma. We are trying to secure the Abia Central Senatorial seat under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress,” he said.
He added that the campaign should be seen as a collective responsibility, urging party stakeholders to take ownership of the senatorial project and carry its message to their respective communities.
Atuma disclosed that the former aspirants had given assurances that they would mobilise their supporters and campaign for the APC across their constituencies.
According to him, having an APC senator representing Abia Central would strengthen the district’s engagement with the Federal Government and potentially improve its ability to attract development opportunities.
“With a senator of the same party extraction, development within the senatorial district will be very high. It will be such that people will feel the impact of representation, not only qualitatively but quantitatively,” he stated.
Atuma said the meeting ended with a collective commitment to work toward delivering what he described as effective representation for the people of Abia Central.
He, however, rejected suggestions that the engagement was essentially a reconciliation meeting following disagreements that may have arisen from the party primaries.
“I don’t really see it as a reconciliation meeting. I see it as a mobilisation and conciliation meeting,” Atuma told ABN TV.
Also speaking to ABN TV, former Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency aspirant, Uba Chiemezuo Anyanwu, reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and expressed readiness to work for the party’s success.
Anyanwu said party members must respect the decisions of the APC and remain committed even when the outcome of an internal contest does not favour them.
“Party is supreme. If you’re a party person, you should understand that. Your time will come,” he said.
He maintained that he and his supporters remained committed to the APC, expressing optimism that loyalty and continued service to the party would be recognised in the future.
Similarly, former Osisioma State Constituency aspirant, Princess Uzoma Chika, described the meeting with Atuma as fruitful and expressed confidence in the senatorial candidate.
“The meeting was fruitful. The senatorial candidate gave us his word, and we know that his word is his word,” she said.
Expressing optimism about the party’s chances in the forthcoming election, Chika declared: “Victory all the way. We are winning.”
The meeting forms part of Atuma’s efforts to consolidate support within the APC following the party’s primaries and build a broader grassroots coalition for his Abia Central senatorial campaign.
Abia Central Senatorial District comprises Ikwuano, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Areas.
