The fate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, ward congresses in the 260 electoral wards of Enugu State, hangs in the balance and the exercises may not hold after all owing to the action of some aggrieved members of the party in the state who have dragged the party to court.
The plaintiffs in the suit are Akpagu Jude, Uzochi George, Agu Chinenye Vivian and Kenneth Ozoemenam.
Joined as defendants in the suit are the APC, its acting National Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and the Chairman of the party in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye.
It was, however, confirmed from the plaintiffs that the suit was served on Nwoye at the party’s Secretariat in Enugu shortly after the stakeholders’ meeting held earlier in the day.
They are asking the court to void anything that has to do with the congress, alleging among other things that after paying for delegate forms, none was issued to them.
When contacted, Nwoye confirmed receiving a motion on notice with regards to the suit filed before the Enugu State High Court.
He, however, expressed anger that party members could take such a step without exhausting the internal mechanisms.
The development stands in contrast to the array of party top-notchers present at Friday’s meeting at the party’s secretariat, where the impression that Enugu stakeholders the party were united as committee assured of a transparent process, was given.
Barely few hours to the commencement of the ward congresses of the party the leaders of the party in Enugu State that had been at loggerheads with one another, to the chagrin of onlookers, joined in the Congress as one fold.
The atmosphere had become more tensed on Thursday night when news of the hijack of the ward congresses materials by “Abuja Politicians” filtered into the state.
But in their stakeholders meeting with the congress committee on Friday afternoon, all nerves were calmed and the confidence of the party leaders and members seemed restored as all the suspected “Abuja Politicians” and stakeholders stormed the party Secretariat at GRA Enugu to speak about the Congress.
Dr Ben Nwoye, the Caretaker Chairman of Enugu APC had indicated that the process was expected to go on smoothly as a majority of the wards and LGAs had reached consensus through consultation of all the party leaders and members in their areas and in places where that couldn’t be achieved, the people were allowed to test their popularity in the field.
Dr Ijeoma Arodiogu the chairman of Enugu State Ward Congress Committee had also at the meeting, dismissed the rumour of the hijack of the materials and assured the party faithful that all the materials for the congress were with them even as he displayed same during the meeting stating that “we are ready to conduct a credible and transparent congress.
Explaining what caused the delay which led to the raising of alarm, Dr Arodiogu said; “The delay was as a result of logistics because we were determined to return to Enugu with the materials,” while assuring all that they “can’t be intimidated by anyone,” and maintained that the “Congress will be conducted in line with the Constitution of APC.”
In his own remarks, the former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, had thanked the committee chairman for all the assurances saying: “We will go home, hoping for a credible process tomorrow (today),” while charging the party members that this is the time to move forward and eschew “as the process is about the party and not a single individual.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama also speaking, applauded the committee chairman and his members for taking up the assignment for the party as it’s in line with democracy which is about service to the people and assured them they will do everything possible to make their stay worthwhile.
On the Congress, Onyeama had declared that “Today is a new day and provides new opportunities for us to unite and make the party work.” and called for “the process to be peaceful because the outcome will benefit us and our children will be the winners.
Also speaking during the meeting, Senator Ken Nnamani who sits as the representative of the South East at the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) expressed happiness that the party is growing very fast in the South East.
He, however, frowned at the incessant infighting amongst members of the party he said, has never helped the growth of the party and enjoined them to stop media and legal banters.
Senator Nnamani observed that “what we are doing tomorrow (today) is fundamental to the electoral process and I call on all our party members and leaders to go to their wards,” stressing that he isn’t interested in who emerges the chairman in the other wards except his (ward II).
“This is the time for us to build the foundation that will enable us to win all elections and it starts with electing credible people at the ward level.”
He had also thanked the state party Chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye for rallying the people together and called on the stakeholders to remain at their various wards during the congress.
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