Abia: APC leaders reunites, lauds ongoing harmonization process by the national leadership
The warring leaders in the Abia State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Friday, reunited after an intra-party crisis that emanated as a result of the conduct of parallel Congresses across the 184 wards in seventeen Local government areas of the state.
Our correspondent recalls that the Abia State chapter of All Progressive Congress, had on Saturday, October 16, 2021, conducted two parallel congresses in the state.
While Hon Donatus Nwankpa led group held its own at the indoor Sports Hall of the Umuahia township stadium which elected a former member of the House of Representatives from Abia, Hon Acho Obioma as State APC chairman, few loyalists of the Chief Ikechi Emenike led faction gathered at the Ugwunchara area in Umuahia and elected Chief Enyinnaya Harbour now late, as party chairman for the state.
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It will also be recalled that earlier before the conduct of parallel state Congresses by APC in Abia, party leaders including Senator Chris Adighije and Chief Sam Nkire, had at a press conference in Abuja, called for the cancellation of the congress till the conclusion of the peace committee on Abia APC led by the Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
But rising from a well-attended meeting held at the country home of one of the leaders of the APC in Abia and Executive Secretary of National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Chief Prince Paul Ikonne, in Aba, on Friday, the enlarged meeting of the party leaders unanimously resolved and agreed to bury their differences and to work collectively for the success of the party, as they await harmonization drive embarked upon by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee Extra Ordinary Convention Planning committee (CECPC) of the party, tilted at bringing the internal wranglings rocking the Abia APC to an end.
The enlarged meeting also reaffirmed that the purported APC Congress held by Chief Ikechi Emenike-led faction and that of Hon Acho Obioma group stands illegal, as the national leadership of the governing party in Nigeria does not recognize any of the two parallel congresses, and that the national body is yet to publish the list of its recognized congresses.
The APC meeting further affirmed unequivocally that the Chief Donatus Nwankpa-led interim committee is still the only authentic leadership of the party in Abia state until the national Secretariate concludes the harmonization process, and release a list of elected state officers on the conducted congress it recognizes.
According to parts of the communique, “That the national body is harmonizing Abia chapter and will come out with the list in due course. And that until that list is published by the National Secretariat of the party; that the Nwankpa led committee is still the leader of the party in the state.
“That we urge our party members and teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Abia state to remain steadfast, and as well as maintain their continuous supports and loyalty to the party as Abia APC is united and intact to deepening internal democracy for greater development.
“That we reassure entire people of Abia State that the All Progressive Congress (APC), is poised to change the narratives in the governance of the state on assumption office at the Abia Government House, Umuahia, as we approach 2023 general elections”.
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The communique also named officers of the Interim executive committee of the All Progressive Congress in Abia state that attended the enlarged meeting at Aba as follows; Hon Don Nwankpa (State Chairman), Barr. Menyechi (State legal Adviser), Hon Uba Omenazu (State Welfare Secretary), Hon Obi Aham (State Organizing Secretary), Comrade Ben Godson State Publicity Secretary), Hon Offor Okorie (State Auditor), Hon. Chibueze Apugo (State Youth Leader), Hon Nnamdi Jato (State Asst Youth Leader), Hon. Dimgba Madumere (State Treasurer), Hon Monday Chigozirim (Abia South Zonal Chairman), Abana Abana (Abia South Zonal Youth Leader), Abia South Zonal Woman Leader, Abia Central Zonal Youth Leader, Hon Paul Nmerenini (State Admin Officer), Hon Chidi Nwanganga. (Asst. State Auditor), (Abia central zonal chairman), Hon ikechukwu Owobe, (State Deputy Woman leader) Chief Mrs. Franca Osuwah, (Abia Central Woman leader) CHF Mrs. Josephine Chukwu, State Deputy Chairman, and Hon Chibuzo Zacheus (State Physically Challenged Leader).
