BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

AN end to the raging battle for the soul of Anambra All Progressives Congress (APC) between Senators Chris Ngige and Annie Okonkwo is far from sight with the men leading two separate state executive committees of the party.

A 35-member factional state exco led by Barr Emeka Ibe had emerged from the first congress held in April and is loyal to Ngige. Another faction made up of 31 members, which is led by Mr. Obiorah Samuel Igwedibia is loyal to Okonkwo was elected last weekend.

Igwedibia and 30 other members of the state executive committee were elected at a state congress held at the Women Development centre, Awka, weekend. Prince Otis Robinson chaired the congress committee.
The party conducted ‘fresh’ ward and local government congresses last week following the controversy that trailed the congresses in April.

Senator Okonkwo had complained against the earlier congress held on April 26, claiming that Senator Ngige marginalised his group.
It was based on this complaint that a committee was set up to repeat the primaries, which did not go down well with Ngige.

Secretary of the Anambra Congress Committee, Dr. Ahmed Aminu said all the 1,122 delegates from the 21 local councils and 326 wards in the state, voted.
Apart from the chairman, Igwedibia, who was challenged by Dr Igwilo Sylvester, the other executive members were elected unopposed.

Dr Chris Ngige

Ahmed said each of the 326 wards produced five delegates including the council chairman and secretary of the party as well as statutory delegates from the National Assembly. Igwedibia commended all APC members in the state for their cooperation, saying he contested for the seat because APC needs to work assiduously to achieve a party that can compete with any other party.

Other officers elected included Deputy Chairman, Rev Achukwu; State Secretary, Nestor Okoro; Publicity Secretary, CT Albert; Legal Adviser, Bar Nwadiuba and Treasurer, Eddy Nwokike among others.

South-East APC disown Igwediba
However, at a time Igwedibia and his team are savouring their election, the South-East chapter of the party dissociated itself from the Anambra repeat congresses.

Sen. Annie Okonkwo

In a statement by its Spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, the South-East APC picked holes in the congresses it said were conducted by some aggrieved members of the party led by Senator Annie Okonkwo at the Women Development Centre Awka, last Friday.

It upheld the earlier Anambra State APC Congress held on April 26 at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, saying “on the position of the Congress Appeal Report on Anambra State and the Abari Sub-committee we stand.”

Okechukwu accused the organisers of the repeat congress of plotting to de-stabilise APC in Anambra State and scuttle its case before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka.
He appealed to all APC members in Anambra to join hands with Senator Ngige, who he said remains the leader of the party by virtue of his position as the highest APC political office holder in the state.

Okechukwu maintained that there is no faction in Anambra APC, describing the purported repeat congress as a gathering of disloyal politicians being used by external forces to destabilize the party. “All one can say is that Senator Annie Okonkwo cannot in all honesty say he is a genuine member of the APC, having sabotaged the party during the Anambra State gubernatorial election late last year.

“I am worried he may withdraw the APC suit at the tribunal, if by mistake, the leadership hands over the structure of the party to him,” Okechukwu said.
He said that a committee set up by the APC National Congress Supervisory Committee had earlier ruled that there was no need to repeat ward, local government and state congresses in Anambra State, hence upholding the earlier congress.

The Committee was headed by Dr Garba Abari, with Hajia Sadia Farouq and B.D. Lawal as members.

I remain a committed bonafide member – Okonkwo
Responding to these allegations after a stakeholders meeting in Awka recently, Senator Okonkwo, who is deputy national chairman (South), said he is a genuine and committed member of the APC and has no plans of ditching the party he helped to found in the South-East.

In spite bickering in the Anambra State chapter, Okonkwo said he has elected to remain in the party because it is the only party that can salvage Nigeria from her multifarious challenges. “After a proper study of what Nigeria is currently facing today as a nation, especially the insecurity and unemployment problems, it is important that we keep sentiments and personal interest aside and save our nation.”

The insinuation of his plan to leave APC arose from his recent suspension by the party to investigate the allegation that he was involved in anti-party activities during the November 16, 2013 Anambra State governorship election.

Considered a front runner in the governorship race, the APC hierarchy favoured Senator Chris Ngige for the party’s ticket, a move that raised dust in the party.

However, Okonkwo said: “After the investigation of the party, they find out I was not involved in anti-party activities, that is to say that APC is a party that stands for truth. All the things they said about me have been investigated.”