APC threatens erring stakeholders in Anambra with sanctions, affirms Ukachukwu as state leader

The National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday read a riot act to the warring factions of the party in Anambra State.

The party represented by the APC fact finding committee for Anambra State, led by the Deputy national chairman (South) of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye during a meeting with stakeholders threatened to deal with troublemakers who have continually caused division in the party.

The APC in Anambra State has been in disarray with several courts suits since after its primary election in March, with aggrieved members staging protests, while a court order had allegedly removed the Senator Emma Anosike-led state exco.

Dr Ben Nwoye who led members of the fact finding committee to the state to ascertain the problem in the party said it had through meetings in Abuja with the leadership of the warring factions found out some of the reasons for the division in the party.

Nwoye stated that the state leadership of the party is not on contest, and that the duo of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife are the leader and deputy leader, and that those positions must be respected.

The chairman said: “I’m not here to massage your ego, but I on read a riot act to you and you must abide by it. The problem you have in your state was not caused by anyone of us in the committee, but we are here to see how you can settle because we are one family.

“As this proceedings continue, I don’t want to know which faction of the party you belong to, if you constitute yourself into a thug, we will treat you as such. You must respect yourself through out the period of this reconciliation,” he said.

Nwoye stated that the two options before the committee were to dissolve the executive of the two factions of the party or to align with state leadership of Emma Anosike as the recognized one.

He said: “We will not like anyone to disrespect the leaders of our party no matter your faction. It is settled that the one with the ticket of the party for governorship and who receives our flag becomes the leader of the party in the state. Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife were our candidates in the last election and they are the leader and deputy leader. The party knows that.

“I appeal to all leaders to open the doors of consultation, let the hurt speak, let mistakes be admitted and let authority unite rather than intimidate. Any peace that does not reach the grassroots is incomplete. If genuine members are abandoned, the party becomes vulnerable to rumours and manipulation.”

The reconciliation meeting featured speeches from aggrieved and prominent actors from both factions, with the committee taking note and pledging to get back to the national leaders of the party with the feedbacks gathered.