The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, South-East chapter, has commended Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State over the on-going efforts to reconcile warring factions in the party.
This is a fallout of meeting between the zonal chairman of the party, Dr. E.E Onwuka and the state chairmen of the party in the five states of the zone.
In a 5-point communique issued after the meeting, the group said though it welcomed the reconciliation efforts, all the stakeholders of the party should be involved.
APGA equally accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of playing double standard in perpetuating the crisis in the party.
“That we commend our Deputy National Leader, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, executive Governor of Anambra State for his efforts to bring peace into our party.
“That our leader should be reminded to accommodate the products of April 8 National Convention at Awka, which Barr. Maxi Okwu and other members of the National Working Committee of APGA emerged and therefore consider their views in his efforts.
“It is our conviction that his peaceful moves will go a long way in guaranteeing the success of APGA in the forthcoming council election and governorship election in Anambra State and other states particularly South-East states”, the communique read in parts.
On the role by the INEC, the party said it erred by “upholding two Appeal Court judgement at the same time.
“By failing to recognize article 18, Section 4 of APGA constitution that clearly contravened the emergence of officers through affirmation or voice vote as they did even to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP”.
“Conscious of the above observations, we commit our loyalty and support to the effort of our Deputy National Leader, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi to secure the triumph of APGA in the state and the nation”, they added.
In a chat with journalists, a stalwart of the party in Enugu State, Dili Nwokeabia accused factional national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh of killing the party through his leadership style.
While blaming him for APGA’s poor performance in the 2011 general elections in Enugu State, he said “Umeh is killing the party through his style. In 2011, after primary election has been concluded, he substituted names of the winners with those of his friends. These were people that hardly knew anybody at home, so it affected the party.
“Besides, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State gave out some financial support to the party in this state through Umeh but it never got to us.
“So, Enugu APGA is in support of Peter Obi, we are grateful to him for all his support to us, but Victor Umeh must be told the truth.
“For nine years now, he has been parading himself as the chairman of the party. Similarly, Shinkafi has also been going around as the national secretary of the party for 10 years now. We say no to this illegality and we are determined to fight it”.
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