ABAKALIKI, EBONYI — A wave of high-profile resignations has hit both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State, as political heavyweights and business moguls begin a mass exodus ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The turmoil comes less than a week after a contentious stakeholders’ meeting convened by Governor Francis Nwifuru, where the state APC adopted a “consensus arrangement” to select aspirants for National and State Assembly tickets.
APC Heavyweights Exit
The ruling party suffered a significant blow with the departure of several prominent figures and financial backers. Among those who have formally tendered their resignations are business moguls Chief Christian Asaga Nwali, Chief Chibuike Orogwu, and Emmanuel Ofoke.
In his resignation letter, Chief Nwali stated that his exit followed “careful reflection” on recent developments within the party. Similarly, Chief Orogwu requested his name be immediately struck from the APC register, thanking the party for the time he spent within its ranks.
The exodus is widely seen as a protest against the Governor’s consensus model, which sources say has marginalized several key aspirants and created deep-seated friction among party loyalists.
APGA Loses Former Guber Candidate
The political tremors extended to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as its 2023 governorship candidate, Professor Bernard Odoh, also announced his resignation.
Odoh, a former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), cited a lack of engagement at the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) level as a primary reason for his departure. He noted that stepping aside was necessary to ensure “institutional coherence,” though he pledged to continue working for the common good of Ebonyi people outside the party structure.
Rising Tensions
Political analysts suggest these resignations are just the beginning of a broader realignment in Ebonyi State. The move by the APC to shut down open internal contests has reportedly alienated a section of the party’s financial base, potentially opening the door for a new political “Third Force” to emerge in the state.
As the 2027 race begins to take shape, the APC and APGA leadership in the state have yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the growing list of exits.
