Crisis is brewing in the Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), following the nomination of Hon. Obinna Ichita, the member representing Aba South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, as the party’s deputy governoship candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
Ibe, had announced Ichita as his running mate through a statement released in Umuahia on Friday.
Ibe said his choice was informed by Ichita’s antecedent as leader of the party in the House of Assembly, equalizing senatorial zone of origin, public acceptability and grassroots support. He, however, said others recommended for the deputy governoship slot were eminently qualified, noting that only one person could have been chosen for the job.
“The outcome of an extensive, rigorous and painstaking screening exercise conducted by the party among many aspirants initially, which finally culminated in the nomination of three eminently qualified Abians, from whom Hon Ichita emerged”.
“In arriving at Hon Ichita, the party adhered strictly to existing guidelines, protocols, due process and ground rules, which among many criteria provide for specific functions and contributions by different organs of the party at State Working Committee (SWC) and National Working Committee (NWC) levels, in collaboration and consultation with the candidate”.
“His enduring membership of APGA even during turbulent periods, sterling performance as leader of the party in the House of Assembly, equalizing senatorial zone of origin, public acceptability and grassroots support”.
However, THE WHISPERER gathered that Ichita’s choice has not gone down well with several party leaders, including aspirants and critical stakeholders.
Mostly irked are members of the party from Ukwa la Ngwa bloc, impeccable sources told THE WHISPERER.
Ichita’s emergence, it was learnt, also deepened the schism in the party, which had been polarised with numerous court cases.
According to a party source, the division became glaring, on Friday evening, when a member of the party’s Board of Trustees openly questioned the choice of Ichita.
“APGA is in serious crisis right now. Obviously, some of our leaders are not happy with the leadership of the party. Some of our leaders wanted the deputy governoship ticket zoned to Ukwa East and West, but got dribbled by the State Chairman of the party.”
Another chieftain of the party said: “We have made a good push against this sentiment, wrote petitions, exposing the fraud behind his nomination and we are willing to push more but only when people listening are ready to be objective and eager to win this election.
“For all I know, Hon Ichita as a Deputy is a liability and imposition orchestrated by Ehiemere on Prof Greg Ibe instead of an asset and a choice based on sentiment.
His nomination as the Deputy is only being echoed by a multitude of sycophants and those that lack the political prowess to win elections.
“The gain and contact he is bringing to the table that warrants his nomination as the deputy can be gotten through several other means and that is to say that he is replaceable but not accommodating and appointing an Ukwa man or woman to the office of the Deputy governor is irreplaceable and a crake we should not just wave off like that,” he concluded.
Recall THE WHISPERER reported that one of the contestants for the All Progressives Grand Alliance ticket for governorship primary election in Abia State, Etigwe Uwa SAN has applied to the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, capital of Abia State, to be declared winner of the APGA primary election held on 29th May, 2022.
Uwa wants the court to determine the authentic governorship candidate of the party as a result of the two parallel governorship primary elections held on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
In the actual election recognised by INEC, Etigwe Uwa had polled 148 votes only second to Greg Ibe who polled 283 votes, while Ijioma Ijioma got 36 and Sir Chikwendu Udensi got 12 votes.
In an application in suit number FHC/UM/CS/100/2022, seeking to be joined as the 7th defendant in a matter between Chief Udensi and APGA, INEC and four others, Uwa had applied to the court seeking to be joined in a suit filed by Udensi who polled the least number of votes following outcome of the primary election.
Uwa, the applicant, said he took part in the said primary election and was declared the first runner up whilst the Plaintiff, Udensi, came 4th but failed to join him in the suit.
The court has however held that the reliefs sought by plaintiff are prejudicial to the applicant’s
rights and interests as the candidate that polled the second highest votes.
The applicant has sought an order of Court to
grant leave to the party to allow him join as defendant and be declared as winner of the said election.
The application for joinder is supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit duly deposed to by one Mr Samuel Nwokocha, a clerk in the office of Uche S. Awa, lead counsel in the matter.
Nwokocha said the plaintiff completely ignored the interests and rights of the applicants.
Justice Anyadike has granted a motion for substitute service for the plaintiff and adjourned for a report of service as well as motion for joinder.
