Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
Secretary of the Contact/Strategy Committee of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Mr. Ikechi Emenike, has debunked claims that parallel congress was held in Abia State, saying that it was “a flight of fantasy to conjure up something that did not happen.”
Members of Abia Chapter of the APC had on Saturday trooped out en mass to elect party executives in all the 17 local governments of the state, which was supervised by the Hon. Sonny Goli led seven-man Local Government Congress Committee sent by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
Speaking with THISDAY on the outcome of the congress, Emenike commended party members for the peaceful conduct of the congress throughout the state, adding that the elected local government executives emerged through a democratic process, which started from the ward level.
He said that it was wrong for any person to give erroneous impression that parallel congress took place as party members that participated in the exercise only gathered at designated venues in each local government with the full knowledge of the congress committee that monitored the exercise.
Goli had on the eve of the congress told journalists at a press briefing that there is only one APC in Abia and assured that there would be no parallel congress.
The national leadership of the APC had scheduled the local government congress seen as the second stage in the process of installing new leadership structures from the ward to the national level.
The congress was rancour-free across Abia as party faithful conducted themselves in orderly manner as they queued to elect their leaders without hindrance, vowing to dethrone the ruling PDP come 2023.
Party members in Bende, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi and other local governments, where the exercise was monitored, were enthusiastic as they sang in praise of the ruling party and its leaders.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha, commended her party leaders and members for the seamless congress.
Speaking with journalists at the party’s secretariat, Nkwoegu Amuda, Isuochi where the congress was held, the lawmaker declared that “the process of dethroning the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia has started.”
She challenged the newly elected party leaders in her constituency to redouble their efforts and bring more people into the APC, adding, “I want to see more defections from the outgoing government in Abia.”
The newly elected Chairman of the APC in Bende Local Government, Mr. Ejiofor Okeudo, said that there was harmony among the 13 wards in the choice of leaders to pilot the affairs of the APC in the council.
The party members had gathered at Practising School Uzuakoli where they elected the new leaders and vowed to solidify the APC’s grip in Bende.
