By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

THE All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Director of Operations, for APGA, Presidential Campaign Council, Elder Afam Enemokwu, has accused the party leadership of abandoning its presidential candidate and the party faithfuls, and not doing what they were supposed to do before the presidential election.

Elder Enemokwu who is also the Delta State Chairman of APGA, alleged that the party is doing the same thing to its Governorship candidate in Delta Sate.

He accused the national leadership of APGA of abandonment, frustrating the party candidate, and not doing the needed things for its presidential candidate during the electioneering campaign, and other processes before the presidential, for unexplainable reasons.

Speaking with Vanguard in a telephone interview, Elder Enemokwu said, “Our presidential candidate Prof. Peter Umeadi is more qualified win the election, because he has all it takes to be president of Nigeria, but we did not do what we are supposed to do before now due to lack of funds which is the only problem we had in presidential election.

No doubt Prof. Umeadi actually show in his personal capacity that he could do it, but the party and his Governor who was elected under APGA, has not shown him any support, in fact, the party leadership abandoned him and they are doing the same to our Delta State candidate.

Asked what the party supposed was supposed to do that it did not do, and who was responsible for not doing the needful, he said, “Well since the constitution the APGA, Presidential Campaign Council, which cuts across all levels of the party, we have not been invited for a meeting, we have not been given direction, there is no funding, so the APGA faithfuls are disappointed and frustrated that nothing, as it use to be, has come from the people up there, the (national leadership) not even a statement, no meeting, no direction, no money, we were just floating and watching, that is why I said we did not do what we were supposed to do, we did not do the needful before now, we went into the presidential election as committed APGA faithfuls.

Reminder that the National Chairman, of APGA, Chief Victor Oye, did not at any point complain of the party not having fund, and why funding the campaign of the party presidential candidate and activities of those working for the party, should be a problem or arise, he said,.” I can’t answer that question, when you see him, ask him because I don’t know what is going on and what is the situation there and their reason, so only him, the National Chairman knows what is the situation and their reason for not funding the party campaign and other things. All I can say is that despite the frustrations, our people across the country are optimistic and will cast our votes to secure victory for or candidates.

Corroborating Elder Enemokwu’s claim, APGA presidential flag bearer Prof. Umeadi, said “Whatever efforts and  breakthroughs in this presidential election has been on personal and self efforts. The National Chairman is not picking my calls and as I speak with you, nothing has ever come to me from the party, not one naira has been given to me as the candidate of the party by the National Chairman and the Governor, am not asking for the state money, they are not supporting me either, because if they are supporting and campaigning for me people will because of their support help in funding activities.

“All the Local Government Chairmen of the party are solidly behind me and worked tirelessly for this election, but I have seen their disappointment from the treatment they are getting from the National Chairman and the Governor of Anambra State. All you see in the National Campaign flag is “APGA all the way, vote for Senate, House of Representatives, and the President is skipped. In other parties and under circumstances, the party National and State Assembly contestants have their bill boards and campaign posters with their presidential candidates, but none included me in their bill boards and campaign posters because they were following instruction not to work for me, they don’t want to project me but they do not have any option, am the face of APGA in Nigeria whether they like it or not.

“The party from day one, particularly the Governor sidelined me, presidential candidate, the Governor is not interested, the Governor has not even received me, I went to see him, my name was listed in the manifest, he knew I was coming, the Deputy Chief of Staff even called me the day I went to see the Governor that my name was in the manifest, and I went and stayed for three hours 2pm to 5pm to see the Governor and he refused to see me, I was humiliated by him because the security men and every body around saw what happened, his party’s presidential candidate waiting for three hours in his office without seeing him.

“I was elected APGA presidential flag bearer on June 1 and on June 8, I went to see the Governor, after booking appointment to see him, from 2pm to 5pm I was waiting to be called in, only for them to tell me that he won’t see me, his presidential candidate, all because of personal interest, the joke party executives crack when they go for LGA meeting is the the “Governor is also running for president with me.””

“One funny thing they did during our Presidential Campaign flag off was that they crafty and quickly changed “APGA Presidential Campaign Flag Off” to “APGA National Campaign Flag Off,” they did everything to play down and frustrate me from the race, but I was determined, I matched on, refused to be discouraged and frustrated.”