Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has warned intending defectors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State against expecting automatic tickets or attempting to hijack the party’s structure.

Speaking during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Enugu over the weekend, Nnaji said the APC would welcome new members but stressed that every aspirant, including current office holders, must go through the party’s primaries.

He noted that party members and leaders had made sacrifices to reposition the APC in Enugu and would not “fold their arms” and allow defectors to take control.
The minister accused some “politically displaced politicians (IDPs)” of lobbying in Abuja to join the Enugu APC to take over its structure.

“Anybody who wants to run for governorship of Enugu State should come to APC — we are ready to contest. We want to populate the party, but there will be no free tickets,” Nnaji said.
“Even if the President of Nigeria wants to contest as governor here, he must go through the primaries. That will be the main election.”

Describing many potential defectors as “party-less politicians,” Nnaji said they were “running from pillar to post” and would continue to do so “until it is too late.” He expressed confidence that APC’s “mission to take over Enugu Government House” was backed by divine support.
He commended the state chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, and party executives from ward to state level for their dedication, assuring that stakeholders would be rewarded for their efforts.
Three members of the House of Representatives who recently defected from the Labour Party — Hon. Sunday Umeha (Udi/Ezeagu), Hon. Chimobi Atu (Enugu North/Enugu South), and Hon. Prof. Paul Nnamchi — pledged their support to ensure APC’s victory in all positions in 2027. Umeha, the first to defect, revealed that more lawmakers, including a senator, would soon join the party.

Agballah praised Minister Nnaji for personally funding the party for over a year and urged members to participate actively in the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that attendance at ward meetings from the end of August would require a voter card.

He called on stakeholders to strengthen the party at the grassroots, announcing plans to partner with a foreign firm to conduct scientific campaigns targeting grassroots voters and women.

Agballah reiterated that while the party’s doors remain open to new members, due process must be followed.

“If you want to join our party, start at the ward level, then local government, then state. There will be proper nomination