The affairs of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Enugu state seem to be headed to an implosion following a series of intractable crises upon crises.
Observers had posited that following the recent state elections that threw up former Enugu state Commissioner, Deacon Ugochukwu Agballah as Chairman of the new state executive, however, as it stands now, the last has not been heard on the issue.
Sequel to this scenario, a group simply identified as Concerned Members of the All Progressive Congress in Enugu State, has called on the national leadership of the party to wade into the crisis rocking the party in the state, insisting that the ex-Commissioner for Works Ugochukwu Agballa who has been parading himself as the state Chairman is not an APC member.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of their one-day meeting held at the state secretariat of the APC in Enugu.
The communique which was read to journalists by the immediate past chairman of the APC in the state, Dr. Ben Nwoye, was signed by two persons from each of the senatorial zone in the state.
The concerned members of the party said they were in the same position with a former governor of the state, Sullivan Chime, Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, Emperor Baywood Ibe, among others.
They advised Ugochukwu Agballa to stop parading himself as chairman of APC in Enugu, insisting that he is not a member of the party.
The APC members said they were determined and committed to reinvigorate and reposition their party in Enugu State to become a viable opposition party, adding that they have decided to join hands and work together for this singular purpose.
They agreed that they were tired of the avoidable and unending factionalization of the APC in Enugu State by people they described as anti-APC leaders, which has made it impossible for the party to win even a councillorship election in the State.
“We represent major interests in the APC in Enugu State with the sole aim of achieving equity, fairness and justice, invaluable ingredients that guarantee growth, inclusiveness and electoral victory in any political association.
“We stand on the Zoning Resolution of the APC in Enugu State. We reaffirm that the position of APC Enugu State Chairman remains zoned to Enugu West Senatorial zone and further micro-zoned to Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency also known as Greater Awgu.
“Greater Awgu should be allowed to present a candidate or candidates for the office of APC State Chairman, just like other Federal Constituencies presented candidates for positions micro-zoned to them.
“We are united in this stand with other major stakeholders of APC in
Enugu West, including but not limited to His Excellency Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, former Governor of Enugu State, Emperor Baywood Ibe, a major, financier of the party, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku Nwagwu, Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform, Mr Osita Okechukwu, DG Voice of Nigeria, Group Captain Joe Orji and Hon Chikwado Chukwunta.
“No one has been given a certificate of return or inaugurated in the State as Chairman of APC in Enugu State by National Chairman of the party for the year 2021.
“Hon. Ugochukwu Agballa should stop parading himself as State
Chairman, as he did not participate in any constitutional or legitimate APC congress on the 16th of September, 2021.
“The National Headquarters of APC should through its National Reconciliation Committee urgently wade into the crisis created by the Dr Ijomah Arodiogbu Congress Committee in Enugu State.
“Any result forwarded to the National Headquarters of APC by the Dr Ijomah Arodiogbu Congress Committee purporting to be the result of the Enugu APC State Congress should be disregarded as Dr Ijomaly did not conduct any State Congress in Enugu State on the 16th of September, 2021” the communique added.