How Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Other APC Candidates Secured Their Tickets in Abia: A Deep Dive into the Primaries
Months before the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Primaries, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had no challenger for the Abia North Senatorial District ticket. As the captain of the APC team in the state, few thought he should have any opponent during the primaries. The consensus among many was that, looming large and high above his contemporaries—ostensibly due to his quality representation in the Senate over the years and his political sagacity—he is a first-team player who needs no substitution.
However, as it is always said, politics is a leveler that at times tries to bring a master and his house boy to the same plane. So, at the tail of March or thereabout, Philip Nto, a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), threw his hat into the ring, challenging Senator Kalu to a contest for the APC ticket for the Abia North Senatorial seat.
Nto was a total mismatch to the former governor—a fact he himself was well aware of. There is no rocket science in finding out this order than the result of the primary election itself. The direct primary election, conducted across the five local government areas and 57 wards of Abia North Senatorial District on Monday, witnessed massive participation by party members and stakeholders.
Results collated from the primary election across the five local government areas that make up the district showed that Senator Kalu defeated his lone challenger, Nto, by a wide margin. The overall result indicated overwhelming support for Senator Kalu in Ohafia, Bende, Isikwuato, Umunneochi, and Arochukwu LGAs. The former governor didn’t spare Nto in his own local government area of Arochukwu.
In Ohafia LGA, results from wards including Etiti, Agbo, Ameke, Agboji, Ohafor, and Okamu indicated a landslide victory for Kalu, with Nto polling zero votes in several of the wards. It was the same story in Arochukwu LGA, where Nto came from: Senator Kalu secured decisive victories in wards such as Ututu, Ikwun Ihechiowa, Ohafor Abam, Arochukwu Ward 1, Arochukwu Ward 2, and other polling areas. The APC primary results also showed strong performances for Senator Kalu in Bende, Isikwuato, and Umunneochi LGAs, further consolidating his dominance across the Abia North Senatorial District.
The official results announced at the APC collation centre showed that a total of 72,028 registered voters participated in the exercise, while 69,441 voters were accredited, and total votes cast stood at 67,854. Senator Kalu polled 65,651 votes to defeat Nto, who secured 2,103 votes, giving the former Senate Chief Whip a commanding victory margin of 63,548 votes.
Understanding the Dynamics: Why Kalu’s Victory Was a Foregone Conclusion
To fully appreciate the scale of Senator Kalu’s victory, it is essential to understand the political landscape of Abia North. Kalu, a former governor of Abia State (1999–2007) and a two-term senator, has built a formidable political machine over decades. His influence extends beyond party lines, with deep roots in grassroots mobilization, community development projects, and a network of loyalists across all five LGAs. This explains why even in Nto’s home LGA of Arochukwu, Kalu still won decisively—a testament to his cross-ward appeal and the perceived weakness of Nto’s campaign.
The Role of Direct Primaries in APC’s Internal Democracy
The APC’s decision to conduct direct primaries—where every registered party member votes directly for their candidate—was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it enhanced transparency and gave ordinary members a voice. On the other hand, it favored well-funded, established candidates like Kalu, who could afford to mobilize voters across 57 wards. For a challenger like Nto, a lecturer with limited resources, competing in a direct primary against a political heavyweight was nearly impossible. This case highlights a broader challenge in Nigerian politics: the high cost of direct primaries often discourages new entrants and entrenches incumbents.
Practical Example: What Nto Could Have Done Differently
For aspiring candidates in similar situations, the lesson is clear: building a credible challenge requires more than just filing nomination papers. Nto would have needed to (a) secure endorsements from key stakeholders in at least two LGAs, (b) invest in ward-level voter education and transportation, and (c) leverage social media and local radio to articulate a distinct policy platform. Without these, even a strong academic background cannot overcome the inertia of an entrenched political machine.
Broader Implications for Abia APC and the 2023 General Elections
Kalu’s landslide victory sends a strong signal to the APC national leadership and the opposition in Abia. It demonstrates that the party’s structure in Abia North remains intact and that Kalu remains the undisputed leader of the APC in the state. However, it also raises questions about internal party democracy: when a candidate wins with over 96% of the vote, it may indicate a lack of competitive alternatives rather than genuine popularity. For the APC to grow in Abia, it must encourage more robust internal contests that test candidates’ ideas, not just their war chests.
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