The political future of Okigwe Zone should not be sacrificed on the altar of prolonged internal disputes. At a time when the people of the zone are increasingly demanding purposeful representation, development and political stability, the Okigwe Zone Youth Movement has appealed for respect for the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary and the mandate secured by Distinguished Senator Patrick Chukwuba Ndubueze.
The youth body, drawing membership from the six Local Government Areas of Okigwe Zone—Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma, Obowo, Okigwe and Onuimo—said the outcome of the May 18, 2026 APC senatorial primary should be treated as a settled political verdict within the party, subject to the appropriate legal and party processes.
According to the group, the primary election was conducted across the 64 wards of Imo North Senatorial District under the Option A4 system, culminating in the emergence of Senator Patrick Ndubueze as the party’s candidate. The result announced at the conclusion of the exercise placed Ndubueze overwhelmingly ahead of Senator Ifeanyichukwu Ararume.
The youths described the margin as a strong indication of the level of support enjoyed by the incumbent senator within the party structure, noting that three other aspirants—Chief Longers Anyanwu, Princess Gloria Akobundu and Mr. Kennedy Ike Odoeme—had earlier withdrawn from the contest and aligned with Senator Ndubueze.
For the youth movement, the issue is no longer merely about individual political ambition. It is about whether the APC in Okigwe Zone can maintain internal cohesion and direct its collective strength towards the 2027 general elections.
They argued that political contests must ultimately produce winners and losers, while mature politics demands that participants understand when the contest has ended and embrace the broader interests of the party and electorate.
The group further maintained that prolonged disagreements following an internal primary can create unnecessary tension among party members, distract political actors from governance and development issues, and weaken the collective preparations required for a general election.
They therefore appealed to Senator Araraume and his supporters to pursue their grievances through established legal and party mechanisms while also considering the broader interest of Okigwe Zone and the APC.
The youths stressed that seeking judicial interpretation of a political matter is a legitimate democratic avenue where applicable, but urged all parties to avoid actions or rhetoric capable of unnecessarily deepening divisions within the party.
Their position was anchored on the belief that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” According to them, the APC’s strength in Okigwe Zone will depend significantly on its ability to reconcile differences, accommodate competing interests and move forward as one political family.
The movement also called attention to the developmental issues confronting the six Local Government Areas, arguing that political energy should increasingly be directed towards issues such as electricity, roads, education, employment, healthcare, youth empowerment and economic opportunities.
They maintained that Okigwe Zone requires political representatives who can combine legislative influence with effective advocacy for development, rather than allowing internal political disagreements to dominate public discourse.
The youths consequently appealed to the elders, traditional leaders, political stakeholders and party leaders across the zone to intervene constructively and encourage reconciliation among all sides.
They further urged Senator Ndubueze’s supporters to demonstrate maturity in victory, warning that political victory should not become a justification for arrogance, provocation or unnecessary confrontation.
According to them, the real test of political strength is not merely winning an internal contest but possessing the discipline to build bridges afterwards.
The movement described Senator Ndubueze’s supporters and other APC stakeholders as members of one political family who would ultimately need one another during the general election
