An aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 primaries, Ezechukwu Obinna, has rejected the outcome of the selection process in Ahiazu-Mbaise Constituency of the Imo State House of Assembly, alleging that a candidate was imposed without a primary election.

Obinna said he and other contenders were sidelined despite purchasing nomination forms and engaging in campaign activities ahead of the expected primary.

Speaking in a video that has since circulated widely, he insisted that his financial commitment and participation in the process were ignored.

“I cannot spend over a hundred million naira just to be discarded in this manner because I’m in APC. This is ridiculous. This is unacceptable by me,” he said.

He explained that six aspirants from Ahiazu-Mbaise obtained nomination and expression of interest forms at significant cost, following what he described as assurances from the party that an open primary would be conducted.

“We were six aspirants that purchased form from Ahiazu-Mbaise and we spent over 10 million naira each in processing the forms. The party gave us hope that there would be an open primary,” he stated.

Obinna alleged that the process took a different turn when another candidate was declared without voting or consultation with stakeholders involved in the contest.

“While we were preparing ourselves for the exercise, we heard that a woman who failed house of representatives primary had been selected as the candidate for Ahiazu-Mbaise state assembly seat,” he said.

Describing the development as unacceptable, he added: “What a rape of democracy!”

He also dismissed claims that the outcome was based on consensus among the aspirants.

“There was nothing like consensus agreement. No meeting with the governor, nor state party chairman. All we heard was that the winner has emerged,” he said.

According to him, his objection was not against any particular individual but against the process that produced the candidate.

“My anger is that if the party had chosen one person from among the six of us that purchased forms, but they went as far as selecting a woman who was contesting for federal house of representatives and had failed in the just concluded primary,” he said.

He called on the leadership of the APC in Imo State and the state governor to intervene and ensure what he described as a fair contest among aspirants.

“I’m calling on the party and the governor of Imo state who is the head of the party to do the right thing and provide an opportunity for all the aspirants to test their popularity at the field,” he said.

The development reflects ongoing tensions within the APC over its internal selection processes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several aspirants across constituencies alleging irregularities, imposition of candidates, and lack of transparency in primary arrangements.

As of the time of filing this report, the APC leadership in Imo State had not responded to the allegations raised by Obinna.