By BONIFACE AKARAH

Frontline aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives ticket for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Adamazi Mary Ikoku, has dismissed reports claiming that a sole aspirant or consensus candidate has emerged for the party’s primary election in the constituency.

Ikoku, in a statement signed by her and made available to journalists, maintained that no valid consensus arrangement currently exists, stressing that the APC constitution and guidelines provide clear procedures for the emergence of a consensus candidate.

“My attention has been drawn to various reports currently circulating in the media regarding the purported adoption and endorsement of different aspirants as ‘sole candidates’ or ‘consensus aspirants’ for the All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primary election for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency,” she said.

The APC aspirant stated that while stakeholders, party leaders, support groups and individuals were free to support aspirants of their choice within democratic boundaries, such endorsements did not amount to a binding consensus under party rules.

“As a loyal and committed member of our great party, I fully respect the rights of stakeholders, support groups, party leaders, and individuals to freely associate, hold meetings, express preferences, and support aspirants of their choice within the democratic framework of our party,” Ikoku stated.

She explained that for any consensus arrangement to be recognised, all duly cleared aspirants must voluntarily agree in writing and jointly endorse a single candidate.

“However, it is important to clearly state that the Constitution and guidelines of the APC provide unambiguous procedures for the emergence of a consensus candidate. For any consensus arrangement to be valid, all duly cleared aspirants must voluntarily agree in writing and endorse a single candidate,” she said.

According to her, “as of this moment, no such collective agreement or unanimous consent has been reached among all aspirants contesting for the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency ticket.”

Ikoku further argued that conflicting claims of endorsement by different groups underscored the absence of any legitimate consensus.

“The emergence of multiple and conflicting claims of adoption by different groups and interests further reinforces the fact that no valid consensus currently exists,” she added.

She urged party faithful, delegates and supporters to remain calm and disregard what she described as attempts to create confusion ahead of the primary election.

“I therefore urge party faithful, supporters, delegates, and the general public to remain calm and disregard attempts to create confusion, false impressions, or unnecessary tension ahead of the primary election,” Ikoku said.

The aspirant expressed confidence in the APC leadership at the state and national levels to ensure fairness, transparency and internal democracy, while reiterating her commitment to peaceful engagement with party stakeholders.

“My focus remains on engaging party members and stakeholders peacefully and respectfully, while presenting my vision, capacity, track record of service, and commitment to effective representation for the good people of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency,” she stated.

She also appealed to her supporters across the constituency to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that the unity and credibility of the APC must remain paramount throughout the process.