The crisis in Enugu State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday took a twist as major stakeholders, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyeama, among others, demanded the sack of state Chairman Ugochukwu Agballah.
Stakeholders stormed the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja to complain to APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, asking for an interim state executive.
But the chairman dismissed allegations levelled against him, describing the stakeholders as “Abuja politicians” with no base in the state.
They wrote a two-page petition to the party’s chairman and called for dissolution of the Agballah-led executive.
It reads: “The party in Enugu State recorded an unprecedented milestone of reinvention during the last membership registration exercise.
“The party rebounded in goodwill as membership soared and the party continued on this positive trend…
“A major crack, however, emerged during the state congress when Ugochukwu Agballah was surreptitiously manoeuvred into the party to become chairman…
“The chairman may wish to recall that as chairman of All Progressive Congress National Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Sullivan Chime, past governor of Enugu State, had led a protest … against the emergence of Ugo Agballah as state chairman on two grounds: (1) non-membership of Ugo Agballah and (2) controversial and irregular process of Ugo Agballah’s emergence as state chairman.
“Ugo Agballah was given the benefit of the doubt by a few leaders and issued a Certificate of Return. It was felt by those few leaders that the party needed to change direction and have a vibrant leader who could unite the party… Unfortunately, the chairman did not waste time in proving those majority leaders who opposed his emergence correct…
“He dismantled the core of the party structure and brought in his followers. He insulted party leaders, including those few who supported his emergence, sidelined them … and has been operating as a sole administrator … The result has been the withdrawal from the party of important leaders and members.
“The party is imploding and on the brink of collapse. It is in no position to be competitive in the general election. The leaders believe a radical solution is called for to save the party from collapse and disgrace …
“The aim is to unify the party through appointment of a caretaker chairman…
“It should be noted that he has been removed by his Udi/Agbudu ward of Udi Local Government Area on August 19 by a majority in his ward.
“This petition is written with a view of notifying the national chairman and National Working Committee. As elders, we believe we must bring these anomalies to your attention.’’
It was signed by Chime, General Okoloagu, Sen. Ayogu Eze, Gbazuagu Nweke, Eugene Odo, Ifeanyi Nwoga, Onyemuche Nnamani and Osita Okechukwu.
Agballah, however, said he would not join issues with Abuja-based politicians with no touch with their base.
According to the embattled chairman, “The truth is that we the State Executive asked all leaders and stakeholders to relocate from Abuja and go and strengthen their wards and none agreed. They want me to be holding meetings with them in Abuja unfortunate I have relocated to the wards and have visited almost 180 wards as of today. As of this minute am sending my report from Olo ward in Ezeagu LGA.
“These eminent personalities are all APC in Abuja and PDP in Enugu no wonder none of them has ever publicly condemned the bad-performing Ebeano cabal that has ruled Enugu for 23 years. Let them show or refer the press to a media report where they have ever done so.
“These eminent personalities and public office holders are mostly unknown in their various wards and do not participate in any APC activity in their various wards no wonder none of them won their respective polling booths. 2015 and 2019. If they did so I challenge them to present the result sheet to the press. I also challenge them to present evidence of their attendance in any meeting of their wards since Oct 2021 when I was elected State Chairman and when I insisted every stakeholder and stakeholders should attend ward and LG A meetings
“That was why these great leaders could only return 2% of total votes cast in the 2019 elections. And they are at it again but they forget I have more experience than them all and will not succumb to their unnecessary distractions. My eyes are on the ball.