The claims had sparked tension among APC aspirants in the state, following speculation that a shortlist of favoured candidates was compiled after the party’s screening exercise.

Reacting to the controversy, Kalu stated that the APC would only produce candidates through constitutionally recognised democratic processes, including direct primaries and consensus arrangements.

He described the rumours as inconsistent with the principles of internal democracy and the party’s established guidelines.

“It has been brought to my notice that there are speculations that a list of shortlisted candidates has been prepared to fly the flag of our party at the upcoming elections,” he said.

“The premise of this alleged list is against the principles of participatory democracy.”

He further explained that the APC constitution only allows two legitimate methods for selecting candidates: direct primaries or mutually agreed consensus among aspirants.

Kalu noted that aspirants are expected to mobilise support at the grassroots level or engage in consultations that may lead to consensus-based outcomes, in line with the Electoral Act and party rules.

He urged party members in Abia State to disregard any claims about a secret list covering House of Assembly, National Assembly, or governorship positions.

“Members of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State are advised to ignore any assumption or suspicion regarding the existence of any kind of list from any quarters,” he said.

He added that if any such list exists, it should be considered invalid and without effect.

Speaking further, Kalu said the party’s earlier congresses in Abia were conducted in a people-driven manner, and that the same democratic spirit would guide upcoming primaries.

He called on members to remain united and focused ahead of the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in the party’s growing strength in the state.

According to him, the APC remains committed to building internal cohesion and positioning itself for electoral success across all levels of contest.

Her death was confirmed on Wednesday by the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

reports that the Executive Secretary of the board, Mallam Idris Ahmad Almakura, disclosed the development while speaking to journalists in Makkah.

He said the deceased, who hailed from Keffi Local Government Area, had complained of illness shortly before her death.

According to him, medical personnel attached to the pilgrims’ contingent promptly attended to her after she reported feeling unwell, but their efforts to save her life were unsuccessful.

“She complained of illness and despite medical attention, she passed away this morning,” he said.

Almakura further explained that officials of the board, alongside members of her family, were present at the hospital to oversee the necessary burial arrangements.

He added that her remains were taken to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, where the Janazah prayer was performed in line with Islamic rites.

The funeral prayer was attended by relatives, Nigerian pilgrims, and officials of the state pilgrims’ welfare board.

The executive secretary advised other pilgrims to remain vigilant about their health and to immediately report any illness to medical teams for prompt treatment.

He also extended condolences to the Nasarawa State Government, the bereaved family, and the board’s staff.

In a separate reaction, a family member of the deceased, Abdulwab Aboki, appreciated the pilgrims’ welfare board for the support and coordination during the burial process, describing their handling of the situation as transparent and compassionate.

reports that the case was instituted by promoters of the proposed party led by Umar Ardo, who asked the court to compel INEC to register the ADA and recognize it as a political party under the Electoral Act 2022.

The plaintiffs argued that INEC had failed to respond to their application within the timeframe provided by law and insisted that the association should therefore be deemed registered.

Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the suit was incompetent, noting that it was not properly filed and was not supported by credible evidence.

The court agreed with preliminary objections raised by Chief Akin Ricketts and Aminu Ahmed, the second and third defendants, who argued that the matter was initiated through the wrong procedure.

Justice Nwite explained that the issues raised involved disputed facts that required oral evidence and witness examination, which cannot be resolved through an originating summons.

He ruled that the proper approach would have been a writ of summons, which would have allowed for cross-examination of witnesses.

On that basis, the court struck out the case for being procedurally defective.

However, the judge still proceeded to consider the merits of the case, in the event that the decision was appealed.

On the substantive claims, the court held that the plaintiffs failed to establish their allegation that Chief Ricketts had defected from ADA to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before the suit was filed.

The plaintiffs had relied on newspaper reports from publications such as ThisDay, Daily Post, and Tribune, but the judge ruled that media reports alone do not constitute proof of facts contained in them.

Justice Nwite stated that such publications only show that an event was reported, not that the claims are necessarily true.

The court further noted that no documentary evidence—such as a party membership card, register, or payment record—was presented to prove Ricketts’ alleged membership of the ADC.

He also upheld INEC’s position that the ADA failed to satisfy certain constitutional and procedural requirements for party registration.

The judge pointed out inconsistencies in the names of interim party officials submitted to INEC compared with earlier correspondence from the association, adding that the plaintiffs failed to adequately explain the discrepancies.

In conclusion, Justice Nwite held that the applicants did not provide sufficient credible evidence to support their claims and dismissed the suit for lacking merit.