Enugu APC elects Nwonye, others in rescheduled state congress

THE Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has re-elected Dr Ben Nwoye as its chairman.

Nwonye got the fresh mandate on Sunday during the party’s rescheduled State congress held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

It was observed that the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attended the Congress while a 5-man Enugu State APC Election Committee led by Charles Brown supervised the poll that saw Nwonye returned as unopposed.

Other members of the committee who were sent from the APC national secretariat were: Akeem Olapade (Secretary) Tina Okoi, Akaya Jonathan and Udezie Chigozie (members)

Mr Brown had in his remarks commended the party members for their peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.

Nigerian Tribune observed that unlike the last Saturday disrupted Congress, the Sunday’s poll which saw the election of other members of the State Working Committee (SWC) was peaceful.

Those elected are, Mr Chikwado Chukwunta, Deputy chairman, Robert Eze, Secretary, Oby Nwofor, Women leader, Chuks Adibe, treasurer, Mrs Kate Offor, Publicity Secretary.

All the party chieftains, including the South East National Vice chairman, Emma Eneukwu, who spoke at the congress, had condemned in strong terms the roles of the other factional group led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, describing the disruption of the Congress on Saturday as “shameful and uncivilized”

Dr Nwoye, in his acceptance speech, thanked members of the party for the confidence reposed on him, saying “I thank you all for your time and sacrifice, we are all winners and champions of democracy.

He promised to use his 2nd term in office to consolidate on achievements recorded during his first tenure.

Meanwhile, the group loyal to the Foreign Affairs Minister, last Saturday night, elected a former State Commissioner for Lands, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, as its new chairman of the party in the State as well as other members.

The factional congress where Ogbodo was said it have defeated his rival, Mavis Onuora, with a total of 469 votes had neither the party’s election committee nor INEC officials in attendance.