A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prof. Phillips Nto, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint an indigene of the state to fill the vacant ministerial slot previously occupied by Nkiruka Onyejeocha. Nto said this would give the people of Abia a greater sense of inclusion in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and strengthen the APC's political standing in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onyejeocha, who served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment, resigned from the Federal Executive Council in April 2026 in line with the administration's directive that political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 should vacate their positions. She subsequently indicated her intention to seek the APC ticket to return to the House of Representatives, where she previously represented Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency.
Nto expressed concern that months after her departure, no replacement had been announced for Abia's ministerial representation. He said the prolonged vacancy had generated questions among APC supporters and residents of the state about Abia's representation in the Federal Government. “I really don’t know what is responsible for the delay, but I believe that Mr President should move swiftly to address the issue and give Abia people a sense of belonging,” he said.
The former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning argued that appointing an Abia indigene would also strengthen the APC's campaign machinery in the state ahead of the 2027 elections. “Mr President will make our job easier if he appoints an Abia person a minister so that we could also be part of the administration,” Nto said. He added that APC members in Abia were increasingly having to respond to questions from opposition parties over the continued absence of an Abia representative in the cabinet.
Nto urged President Tinubu to exercise his discretion in selecting the replacement, saying that even if there were disagreements among party stakeholders over who should occupy the position, the President should simply appoint a qualified person of his choice. The APC chieftain said filling the vacant slot would send a positive signal to party members and supporters in the state and enable them to more effectively defend and promote the administration's policies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Nto also told the APC stakeholders that the party had sufficient material to campaign for Tinubu based on what he described as the achievements of the administration since its inauguration in May 2023. He cited the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased the resources available to the federal, state and local governments for development.
The former commissioner also pointed to infrastructural projects in the South-East and the appointment of an Igbo officer as a service chief as examples of what he described as the administration's efforts at greater inclusion. He said the rehabilitation and reconstruction of federal roads in the South-East should also be highlighted by APC campaigners in the region.
Key points
- Nto urges President Tinubu to appoint an Abia indigene as minister to fill the vacant slot and strengthen the APC's standing in the state.
