Anambra APC In Trouble: Merger Parties Reject Chairman

Chairmen and secretaries of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, that make up the new merger party, All Progressives Congress, APC, have described the party's acting state chairman, Barr Chuks Chinwuba as an impostor.

The merging political parties made their stand known in a joint press release signed by the chairmen of the defunct political parties and their secretaries and made available to journalists in Awka on Wednesday.

The four-paragraph press release stated categorically that Chinwuba was an impostor who was parading himself as the chairman of the party, even when a congress had not been held.

They stated that if Chinwuba and his group who had been parading themselves as leaders of the party in the state did not desist from doing so, the group which had dubbed itself Legacy Parties, would be forced to take legal action against him.

The release read in parts, “The approach by Chinwuba and his cohorts to climb to the leadership position of our great party through the back door is not only condemnable, but an act of irresponsibility. We therefore condemn the attitude in its entirety.

“We, the merging parties chairmen, secretaries and members in Anambra State unequivocally state that our dear party in Anambra does not belong to anybody or group of persons as to single handedly impose leadership of the party on us.

“At the appropriate time, we shall make known to the public the status of individuals and merging parties in APC in Anambra as to put in the right perspective the status of claim of such persons and parties mentioned above”.

It would be recalled that just two days to the governorship primary election of the party in the state, the APC made available a press statement to journalists in Anambra State, claiming to have held its state congress in an unknown location in Awka, where it stated that Barr Chuks Chinwuba had been elected the chairman of the party in the state.

Anambra APC crisis: Annie Okonkwo dumps Ngige
Premium Times
Campaign coordinator says Ngige does not appreciate his sacrifice.

The plan by a former governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, to return to the exalted seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, suffered a setback on Thursday, as his campaign coordinator, Annie Okonkwo, resigned his appointment.

Mr. Okonkwo, a former senator, announced his resignation in a letter to the APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande, which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES.

He was appointed by the APC national leadership as the Chairman/Campaign Coordinator of the National Campaign Committee for Anambra State Governorship election in August.

The election holds on November 16.
Mr. Okonkwo said he was pulling out because of the inability of Mr. Ngige to keep to the agreement reached with him.

Mr. Ngige, a serving senator, was the governor of the state between 2003 and 2006, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He was first announced as the APC candidate in Abuja last month by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who reportedly prevailed on Mr. Okonkwo, then an aspirant, to step down.

Mr. Okorocha said the decision was taken by the South East caucus of the party.

The letter, addressed to Mr. Akande, reads, “I want to appreciate you, my national chairman and indeed the interim National Executive Committee on my appointment as the Chairman/Campaign Coordinator of the National Campaign Committee for Anambra State Governorship election, come 16th November, 2013.

“It is really commendable and appreciated, but wishes to regrettably decline the appointment and also dissociate myself from the candidature of our flag bearer, Senator Chris Ngige (sic).

“My decision was borne out of the inability of not keeping (sic) to agreement and flagrant distrust and abuses by our flag bearer who, of course, showed no appreciation of the supreme sacrifice of stepping down for him.

“As a party man, I remain committed and loyal to our great party.

“Meanwhile, accept sir, the assurances of my highest esteem.”

VOTE CHIEF WILLIE OBIANO FOR ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNOR