Members of the Abia state caucus and stakeholders reject the candidate favoured by the NWC to represent the state in the party as the selection of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and Zonal Officers continued on Friday.
Briefing journalists at the National Secretariat of the APC, a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Stanley Ohajiriuka said the caucus and stakeholders reject in totality the alleged imposition of the nominee as it is not approved by the caucus led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
It could be recalled that following the death of the Zonal Secretary, Barr. Friday Nwosu, the Caucus was requested by the party to send a replacement.
But while the Abia caucus and stakeholders submitted the name of a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assemby, Hon. Martins Azubuike the governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma submitted the name of a former Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Donatus Nwakpa.
“Abia APC Caucus and have rejected the process employed by the National Working Committee in replacing the Late FN. Nwosu as the National Welfare Secretary and the representative of Abia at the NWC.
“The above position of the Caucus/stakeholders was communicated to the National Chairman in his office through two separate delegations led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Chris Adighije respectively and the National Secretary by a delegation led by Senator Nkechi Nwaogu.
“A letter of the stakeholders dated the 15th August 2023 signed by major stakeholders to which was annexed the list of attendance of the nomination meeting officially conveying Caucus/Stakeholders nomination to the NWC through the National Chairman, through the Zonal Chairman, South East and through the State Executive Committee was conveyed as well.
“Considering that Abia APC does not have a Governor and that the Deputy Speaker who is the leader of the party in the state and the Stakeholders were not carried along by the NWC in reaching their decision, we hereby call on our National Chairman and the NWC to revisit their earlier decision”.
The group is appealing to President Bola Tinubu to look into the alleged constant outside interference which they insisted was one of the reasons for the poor outing of the party in the state in the 2023 general elections.
“May we also call the attention of the President, the leader of our great party to this passionate appeal that will help Abia APC heal from the wounds inflicted on us by similar act of external interference in the activities of our State chapter in times past and allow us to unite and reposition Abia APC for greater prospects under the God-given leadership of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“ We further pledge our unalloyed loyalty and support to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and thank him immensely for the confidence reposed on our leader, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives”.
As according to him, those who signed the statement include: Sen. Chris Adighije, Sen. Nkechi Nwangu, Dr Emeka Wogu, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajiriuka, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe and Chief Marshall Wokocha.
Others were Munk. Rev. Row. Sally William, Sam Onuigbo, Nze Cestaga, Chief Damel Akwari, Chibuike Jonas, Chief Kelana Ariwodo and Onyinye Rufus-Obi.
