•Nobody can hijack the party – Nwoye
•I have required experience, capacity to lead APC to win elections in Enugu – State chairmanship candidate, Amah
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state have commenced preparations for a hitch-free conduction of congresses to elect party leaders at the ward, local government and state levels.
This is following announcement by the national leadership of the ruling party which had slated its congresses to hold from July 31st, 2021, beginning from the ward level.
The APC had postponed the congresses, which were earlier scheduled to begin July 24.
Speaking on Wednesday at a joint meeting organized for the state caretaker committee, ward, local government, state chairmanship candidates and grassroot stakeholders, the state caretaker chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye, declared that nobody would be allowed to hijack the process, expressing optimism that no parallel leadership will emerge at the conclusion of the congresses.
The outgoing caretaker chairman stressed that only card-carrying members of the party who are duly registered as delegates at their ward levels would be allowed to participate in the ward, local government and state congresses.
He cautioned candidates against fomenting crisis in the party, vowing to sanction any member or party leader who exhibits any fraudulent act during the exercise.
“The only person eligible to vote during the congresses at the ward are card-carrying members of the party. Registration has ended. Nobody should go and get new people to vote for any candidate. Nobody should come near where the congress is being organized without their slips.
“This is not a time to start looking for new members. It’s height of electoral criminality to employ people who are not members of the party to either contest or participate in voting. Let APC members elect their party leaders,” he said.
Nwoye advised any aggrieved candidate not satisfied with the conduct or outcome of the election to file for an appeal at the state level, adding that “if you bring your appeal to the state and afterwards you’re not satisfied with the outcome, you can take it to Abuja to contest it.”
Expressing optimism for a smooth running of the process, Nwoye disclosed that expression of interest forms for different positions will soon be made available by the national secretariat of the party, “meaning that nobody can hijack the form as those who will sell the form will come from Abuja. It is going to run smoothly. You can either collect your forms here or you go to Abuja and pick it.
“Don’t involve yourself in fraud. If you do that and emerge, you’ll be disgraced and if you fail to emerge as delegates from your ward, you cannot even vote for yourself,” he advised candidates.
He also warned candidates against interfering with the processes of the exercise in other people’s wards.
He said: “Allow the wards to elect their own leadership. When contesting, don’t allow your line-up to be a disintegrating factor to the party. Don’t bring in disharmony into the process. Figure out how to do it without causing crisis in another person’s ward.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, Nwoye had appreciated the outgoing state, local government and ward caretaker executives who had served with him from March 24, 2014 when they were elected.
He said: “I’ve served as the state party chairman for 7 years, 1 month and 10 days today. Many of you in joined me in that journey. All the successes we have achieved would never have been possible without the support of all of you who joined me in that journey. And that time have come when I must take a bow and retire.”
He urged the caretaker executive committee who had served with him not to re-contest, saying that although everyone of them are eminently qualified as their tenure was truncated when the national leadership of the party dissolved them, they should consider in the best interest to allow the party have a fresh start with fresh executives.
“Many people have urged me to recontest, saying they can’t find another like Ben Nwoye but that’s not true. I believe we have people who are far better than me who can take over this party and do much more better than Ben Nwoye.
“The only person on earth that is irreplaceable is God. Every other animal or material created by God they all have a replica of better ones. Whatever position you have or may occupy, all of us are highly replaceable by those who can perform better than us. Don’t hold onto any position as if your life depends on it because when one door closes, another opens.
“I’m pleading that anyone that occupies any position, especially the ward, local government and state chairman, to think of the party first. The position is nothing without us winning the state government house. We’ve grown this party to the envy of even the ruling party. We’ve reformed and made the APC fashionable,” he said.
Meanwhile, candidates who officially declared interest at the event to run for the state chairmanship position of the party, numbering up to eleven, all took turns to market themselves, discussing their prospects and agenda for the party should they emerge winner.
One of them who spoke with our correspondent, Amb. Hon. Timothy Chuks Amah, a former organizing secretary of the APC in the South East, stated that he has the requisite knowledge and experience to lead the party in the state to its Eldorado.
Amah who noted that he has been in the party since its inception, said he has the ability to withstand pressure from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and position the APC to win elections in the state.
According to him, “I have been a member of this party since inception and I believe I know everything, not just as an active member, I have ran for elections in this party since 2015 and lost. I contested again at the 2018 national convention of our party in Abuja and was elected the zonal organizing secretary, APC Southeast. Working in the party, I believe I can do better than other candidates, considering my experience and exposure.
“Being a member of the NEC where certain decisions at the highest level are being taken, I believe I have garnered the experience and I’m young too because it requires energy and time. That’s what drives me to aspire to be the chairman of our party.
“Looking at my antecedent, I’ve never been found wanting. I’ve been working for the party. In fact, I see myself as a rallying point because before I declared my interest to run, I spoke to all the leaders and I’m in the same page with them.”
When asked what he would do to make the party step up as a strong and viable opposition to the ruling party, he said: “It has to do with my capacity to resist bribes or selling out but by the grace of God, I’m very comfortable. I’m not looking for estates or phantom homes to buy anywhere.”
“What I want to do is to build the party so that people can benefit from what they laboured for. I believe that when I become the chairman, I have the capacity to withstand every pressure and do everything we can within our powers to win elections and that is when members of the party can benefit,” he concluded.
Other persons who declared interest to vie for the APC state chairmanship position include: Dr. Charles Chiadikaobi Chukwu, Capt. Joseph Oji, Dr. Walter Ochi, Barr. Fidel Ayogu, Barr. Chike Omeje, Chief John Anya, Dr. Obinna Chikelu, Hon. Chiedozie Nwafor, Comr. AC Ude and Chief Benson Ifeanyichukwu Eze.
