The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, has reiterated their readiness to not only participate in the February 29th Council elections in Enugu State but win some of the positions under contest.
Speaking to newsmen in Enugu, the state Chairman of the party, Dr. Barr. Ben Nwoye maintained that APC as a party, understands that; “LG election is a grassroot election and a breeding ground for new politicians. We have been participating and 2020 won’t be different,” Nwoye said.
On the issue of the candidates of the party for the election, Dr. Nwoye said the list of the candidates of the party that emerged through a well coordinated primaries across the state on the 21st of January aren’t in doubt just as the leadership of the party in Enugu State is crystal clear even to the blind.
He said the following persons emerged from the primaries held across the 260 wards in the state;
Aninri – Hon. Mrs. Grace Umeze
Awgu – Hon. Barr. Chukwu Frank
Enugu East – Hon. Ejike Okolo
Enugu North – Hon. Ndubuisi Ugwu
Enugu South – Hon. Ibeachum Charles
Others include;
Hon. Engr. Anthony Eze for Ezeagu
Hon. Ejiofor Okoloagu for Igboetiti
Hon. Lazarus Umeh for Igboeze North
Hon. Jonas Okenyi for Igboeze South
Hon. Vincent Odo for Isi-Uzo
Hon. Dr Sunday Onovo will fly the party’s flag in Nkanu East.
Nkanu West, Hon. Anthony Nwafor
Nsukka, Hon. Barr. Sunday Ugwoke Raphael
Oji River, Hon. Sunday Umeh
Udenu, Hon. Chika Mamah
Udi, Hon. Charles Ezechime
Uzo-Uwani, Hon. Chris Ajodo
Dr. Nwoye expressed his disappointment with the Dr. Mike Ajogwu led Enugu State electoral commission for accepting a 12-man list from an “unknown individual” claiming they are the candidates of the party.
In the words of Dr. Nwoye: “He (Dr. Ajogwu) has shown unwillingness to be fair to the process. He has shown that they can’t conduct free and fair election but despite that, we are going into the contest.
“In a true democracy, there most be competition and we are pleading with him, if he’s confused about who’s the Enugu State chairman of the APC, he should cross over to his neighbor at INEC and ask them for the list of political parties and their chairmen. If he goes through the list, he will see that the number 18 on the list (before the deregistration of political parties) is APC and my name is there.”
The APC chairman told the ENSIEC boss to be ready for litigation battle if he goes on with “the political profiteering.”
“If Dr. Ajogwu wants to attract litigation on himself and distort the political party process, then, he can go on with the political profiteers, go continue to trade through his office and deposit the so-called candidate list.
“It’s not in contest, who’s the chairman of APC in Enugu State, this matter has been long resolved in 2018 both in court and by congress. Those who are claiming chairmanship on the pages of newspaper and social media are doing so because under the influence of the funds they are receiving from those that are encouraging them to distort our political process.
“It’s pertinent Enugu people knows that APC is participating in this election clearly and they have alternative in all the 260 wards, to vote for APC,” he concluded.
