By Chinonso Alozie,

Ahead of the May 2019 National Convention of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, a national chairmanship aspirant, Edozie Njoku has said that the party lost the Imo State governorship election to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because of lack of internal democracy.

Njoku, a former national vice chairman of APGA, disclosed this at the party’s state secretariat in Owerri, while declaring his intention to vie for the National chairmanship position.

He said among other things that he would restore internal democracy in APGA at all levels adding that with internal democracy, the people would believe in the party again.

Njoku argued that the position of national chairman should be allowed to go to other states, adding that Anambra State should not be the only state producing the national chairman.

He also called on leaders of the party to allow due process by allowing delegates to choose who they want as their leaders.

Njoku said: “We in the South-East believed that in 2023 there must be a strive for Igbo to produce the president. What I am saying is that I am here in my state and I have the passion to drive the party to a greater height. I am here to declare my intention to contest for the National chairmanship of APGA.

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“My main interest is to put APGA back to its position. Anambra must not hold the position alone. The position of the National chairman should move out of Anambra State. We must give it that colouration that it is a party for all. We must make sure that we put APGA back on track.

“There will be a backlash if the right thing is not done this time around. They should allow Congress to be without undue interference.”

He continued: “The work of the National chairman is to build relationships and continue to mobilize the people for APGA, let me say this, APGA, needs a direction so that it can give the people what they need. APGA lacks internal democracy that is why the whole thing is going the way you are seeing it. If not for lack of internal democracy in APGA,  Emeka Ihedioha would not have won IMO. We must rebuild APGA so that our people will believe in us again.”