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Tag: Abia APC

  • Abia APC elects Ndukwe party chairman

    The state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter, has produced Dr Emmanuel Aguzie Ndukwe as the chairman.

    He and other executive members are to serve for four years.

    Speaking in Umuahia, secretary of the congress committee, Hajia Rabi Sulu Gambari said they were sent by the national body to conduct the congress.

    Hajia Gambari noted that when they came into the state, “we asked questions and found out that the court order given to us at the national office in Abuja shows that they are the authentic state executive”.

    “The documentary evidence before us at Abuja office shows that this is the authentic Abia APC and we are at the legal gathering of our party, we are going to present our report as we have seen it”.

    She said they were happy the exercise was peaceful, and urged all to work for the party, state and country.

    Another member, Sani Garuba said they were in the gathering of APC backed by law, stressing that as a party known for obeying court order, they must obey court orders.

    Garuba noted that members in Abia APC had chosen those they want to oversee the affairs of their party.

    “Having been duly elected by our party members, we are going to send our report to the national office in Abuja”.

    He congratulated those elected, and urged them to  discharge their duties without any fear or favour.

    “We are happy to witness this great day and you are expected to represent your people and the party well as well as our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    Welcoming members to the congress, state party leader Chief Ikechi Emenike said he thanked God for what he was been doing for the party in the state.

    Emenike noted that truth is constant, “but we should not gloat over what we have achieved as it is only God that has given us the grace for what we have achieved and we want to urge members to remain faithful”.

    He challenged members to brace up for the task ahead and urged those outside to join to move the party forward.

    State chairman Dr Ndukwe said they are poised to work for the party and ensure victory in 2019.

  • Abia APC set for state congress

    Abia State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe has  said the party is ready for the state congress holding tomorrow.

    Speaking to members in Umuahia,  Ndukwe said they should troop out to support those to be state leaders.

    Ndukwe said those interested in positions should bring their supporters, adding that a committee will monitor those with huge followers to determine their support base.

    The chairman said he was interested in the state chairmanship, and urged party members to vote for him.

    He urged members to mobilise peoplefor the day for the state congress.

    “We are expecting a large crowd of party members, so come early so that you can get a place to seat”.

    Ndukwe said “I want to assure members that we are on the right track as the authentic APC in the state, with the backing of a competent court so whatever we are doing we have its backing”.

    He asked members to remain steadfast.

    “Your presence on that day will make the people  know APC is in the state to stay and do great things”.

    The party chair said all contestants would pay same amount, irrespective of the position they are vying for, adding that women will pay less.

    Ndukwe explained that there will be 18 canopies, representing 17 local governments.

    The 18th, he noted,  will be for officials supervising the congress.

    Also speaking, Chief Ejiofor Okeudo, who is contesting the zonal chairmanship of Abia North, said the exercise will start by 7 am at the usual venue, with adequate security and vehicles.

    Okeudo, a party official, assured members they have nothing to fear, saying the party constitution and guidelines would be strictly followed.

    He urged them to ignore the BoT members as there is none for now.

  • Abia APC holds peaceful council congresses

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State held its local government congresses  in a rancour free exercise withnessed by INEC and security officials.

    Speaking with reporters at Uzuakoli in Bende council, state party Chairman Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe said congresses were held in the 17 councils.

    Ndukwe said security agencies as well as INEC monitored the exercise, stressing that reports reaching him showed the congresses were peaceful with a large turn out of members.

    The state APC chairman noted that with the success, there is hope for the party as it is set to take over the government.

    In her speech the Bende council Chairman, Mrs Ucheoma Offonry, described her victory as the will of God, stressing that it also shows the party is gender-sensitive.

    In Aba South, the Chairman Uzoma Solomon Igbani said during the congress, some ‘unscrupulous’ policemen came after party members to stop the exercise, “but we outsmarted them which enabled us to hold a successful congress”.

    Igbani said: “Earlier, some policemen and thugs came to the venue of the congress since we were aware of their plans we refused to gather which confused them and they left with the mind that they have succeeded”.

    He continued: “When they left, we held our congress in a peaceful atmosphere where all party officials were elected witnessed by INEC officials and security men”.

    Chairman of Aba North Barnabas Obioha said the congress was peaceful, adding that results have been sent to the state party office in Umuahia.

    Obioha commended the people, and urged party members to look forward as they have brighter days ahead.

    At Umuahia North, Dr Nelson Amanze Udunze was elected chairman.

    Udunze described the exercise as peaceful, urging party members to partner hands him to develop the party.

    He alleged that the parallel congress by Donatus Nwakpa was illegal, “as they have been bought over by the ruling PDP”.

    Other elected chairmen are: Umuahia South, Victor Ugo Onuigbo; Umunneochi, Ejike Olekanma; Ohafia, Joshua Amogu; Ukwa West, Uju Ik Nwarie; Ukwa East, Peter Akarahu; and Obingwa, Okey Kanu.

    Also elected are Ugwunagbo; Uzoma Nwamero; Ikwuano, Onyekachi Isihonwu; Arochukwu, Ifegwu U. Kanu; Isiala Ngwa North, Samuel Ogechi Nwabueze; Isiala Ngwa South, Nnamdi Ezenwoke; Osisioma, Gabriel Nnamdi; and Isuikwuato Ugochukwu Maduka.

     

     

  • Abia APC holds peaceful ward congress

    Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday held peaceful ward congresses across the 17 local government areas of the state.

    Our reporter who monitored the exercise in Osisioma, Aba North and South local government areas of the state respectively reports that APC faithful came out in their numbers to participate in the exercise.

    Information coming from other parts of the state, including Umuahia North and South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and West, Ikwuano and other wards in Bende Local Government Area has it that the exercise was also devoid of any violence and rancour.

     

  • Abia APC meets on 2019 poll

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia Central, led by Dr Okezie Abarikwu, has met to strategise on the elections in 2019.

    Addressing members at the meeting in Umuahia, Abarikwu said the Abia State High Court had resolved the leadership crisis in the party.

    Abarikwu assured members that they will contest any position from councillorship to the presidency at the national level.

    He warned: “We are aware that it is not easy to unseat an incumbent governor in an election, therefore we need to work hard if we want to remove him, everybody must get his/her PVC for it to be possible”.

    A state official of the party, Chief Ejiofor Okeudo, said he was surprised with the number of people at the meeting.

    Okeudo said: “I was sent by the state executive council of our great party to address local government executives numbering about 100, but am surprised to be addressing over 1000 delegates which means that Abia central is doing well in getting new members”.

    On the alleged  suspension of Emenike by Abia APC, the chair of Emenike’s ward, Onyebuchi Igodo , said no such thing happened because he did not sign any letter to that effect.

     

  • Abia APC gets new chair Emma Ndukwe

    An Abia High Court sitting at Okpuala Ngwa and presided over by Justice C. U. Okoroafor has sacked the executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Donatus Nwankpa.

    Nwankpa is replaced by Dr Emmanuel Aguzie Ndukwe.

    The suit was brought by Fabian Okonkwo, Chris Okpechi and Onyebuchi Igodo against APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Donatus Nwankpa and three others.

    The order asked APC, Odigie-Oyegun, Alh. Mai Mala Bunu and Dr Muz Banire to stop dealing with the Nwankpa and Menyechi Onuoha and other members of the Abia executive pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The order said: “The first to fourth respondents are restrained from dealing with the factional list of state, LGA and ward delegates sent to the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja by Nwankpa led state Exco in any manner until the substantive suit is determined.’’

    Ndukwe accused Nwankpa of allegedly collecting funds from moneybags in the state in the name of the party and thereafter making leaders against the rules of the APC.

    He said: “In view of his actions which are against the party, the party met on November 25, 2017 and suspended him and later went to court, which granted an order restraining the national office of our party and others to stop recognising him as Abia APC chairman”.

    “By this court order which is in our possession we are now the authentic and recognized Exco of APC in the state until the court order is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

    On the question about the APC rally in the state where Nwankpa was recognised as the state chairman, Ndukwe said: “We are a law abiding party even when the national office was deceived to condone illegality, which we allowed as we don’t want to be seen as a divided house.

    “However, that supposed rally you are talking about was not a rally as to us it never took place, how many national officers were there, to us there was no such rally as it was never in our history that such a rally ever took place in our state.

    “Before now, after our harmonisation the two sides were asked to produce officers and Nwankpa’s side brought him as chairman while I came in as secretary and I am supposed to be the engine room of the party but was never allowed to function.

    “Nwankpa hijacked the part structure and started holding meetings with people who are not members of our party and whose names do not appear on any party register and he has also been holding meetings with ward chairmen of the faction that produced him.

    “We are going to hold our NEC meeting today, which I will attend as the state chairman and any attempt to stop me from being there as the state chairman will mean contempt of court, which is a liable offence.”

    Ndukwe observed that the order will not divide the party, rather it has brought unity, and it’s an impetus to work harder and take the state in 2019.

    He noted that since the court judgment on March 18,  “there has been jubilation within and outside the party as most members have been very uncomfortable with the high handedness of the former chairman”.

  • Abia APC demands payment of workers’ salary arrears

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter, has urged the state government to pay workers in the state their six months’ salary arrears.

    The Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Ben Godson, in a chat with newsmen at Ohambele in Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state, said that the party was worried over the inability of the state government to pay its workforce in the last six months.

    Godson who disclosed that the leadership of the party has been inundated with calls from Abia workers complaining how excruciating life has being for them and their family members in the last six months, even after they (workers) have shown commitment and dedication to duties, not minding the indifference of the state to their plights.

    Investigation by The Nation has it that workers under Ministries and Departments of the state government have been paid till April while workers in government institutions such as Abia Poly, Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Abia State School of Health Technology (ABSHT) Aba,  and others were owed from six to eight months arrears of salary respectively.

  • 2019 council elections: Okorocha drums support for Abia APC

    The governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has assured the executives and members of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the support of his administration as they prepare to go for the forthcoming local government elections.

    Okorocha also assured them of his support that will enable them remain afloat till 2019 when they will be prepared to take over the governance of the state, stressing that they do not have any reason not to take over the state by the time the next election comes up.

    Speaking during a meeting with the members of the APC in Umuahia, Okorocha said that APC will surely take over the government house in the state and urged them to remain steadfast if they want to succeed in their bid to take over the state.

    Okorocha who was represented by a member of the Imo State house of assembly, Hon Max Odunze told them that the state will be a better place by the time they take over the state come 2019.

    Earlier the state chairman of the Abia APC, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, said that the party appreciates the support of the great Owelle Okorocha in ensuring that the people of the zone have a sense of belonging in the party.

  • Abia APC leadership hails Kalu’s defection

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has hailed the decision of the former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, to join the party.

    Kalu was one of the founding fathers of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) in the state. He later founded the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), a party that held sway in the state for over eight years as it produced Kalu and Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji as former governors of the state respectively.

    Kalu’s movement to APC has attracted commendations from his supporters. In a chat with newsmen in Aba, APC chairman, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, who described Kalu as an asset, said it is a welcome development, adding that Kalu’s defection was a long awaited movement.

    In a telephone interview, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Ben Godson, said the impact Kalu would bring to the party cannot be overemphasized.

    He said since the news of Kalu’s defection came to the public domain, over 5,000 persons, who were Kalu’s supporters, have defected to the party, adding that more prominent Abians are also going to join the party in no distant time which they (Abia APC leadership) will make available to the public as soon as such persons join the party in the state.

  • Abia APC factions reconcile

    Abia APC factions reconcile

    The lingering crisis that factionalized the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress [APC], which may also have denied them the opportunity of clinching power in the state, has come to an end as the two factions have agreed to come together and work for the progress of the party.

    The party, at its meeting in Umuahia, agreed to come together and harmonize the two factions so as to have a common front and jointly produce the new state executive council.

    Speaking with newsmen after the meeting that brought the imbroglio to an end, the state party chairman, Donatus Nwamkpa, said both factions have realised their mistakes and have agreed to end it for the good of the party in the state.

    Nwamkpa charged the party members to be fully involved in the restructuring of the party, adding, “Since we are all leaders of this great party, we should not allow it to collapse under our watch”.

    The Abia APC chairman said, “We have all agreed to come together for the good of our great party, therefore every member is expected to work hard to ensure that we remain focused to achieve results of taking over power come 2019”.

    In his reaction, the state Deputy Publicity Secretary, Offor Okorie, said, “With this development, the Abia APC is poised to take over power come 2019. I advise Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to sit up; otherwise, the state will be too hot for him and his government”.

    He said the party in the state is determined to hold a strong opposition which will give APC a strong and sound footing in the state.

    It would be recalled that the party, prior to the last general election, had two factions, one led by Nwamkpa, the other led by Fabian Nwankwo and both had held parallel congresses.

    The Nation observed that with the harmonization, the party is now led by Nwamkpa as Chairman, John Ogumka as the Deputy Chairman and Dr. Emma Aguzie Ndukwe as the State Secretary.