Internal crisis rocking the Anambra West Local Government Area chapter of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) appears to have become unmanageable. This is coming few weeks to the swearing-in of Professor Chukwuma Soludo, elected on the platform of the party, as the new governor of Anambra State.
In a space of two days, there have been two different letters of suspension coming from opposing factions of the party accusing themselves of greed, negligence, non-accountability, short-changing others, anti-party activities, extreme pursuit of selfish interest, amongst other vices. A commentator in few words described the intrigues. “It is a game of numbers. It is a game of power. It is a game of intrigues. It is a game of conspiracy. It is a game of selfish interests. It is a game, every human play consciously or unconsciously. It is a game that builds and destroys friendships. It makes and unmakes people. Politics is everything. The game of power is played everywhere.”
One of the letters dated February 16, 2022 was signed by Mr. Titus Oguguo and Hon. Christian Akubueze as Chairman and Secretary of a Disciplinary Committee. It purports to suspend Hon. Patrick Udoba, representing Anambra West Constituency at the State House of Assembly and Mr Chinwuba Morba, the APGA Umueze Anam Ward II, chairman, while the other letter purports to suspend Hon. Godwin Onyeaka, Christian Akubueze and Samuel Okafor being the Chairman, the Youth Leader and the Secretary, respectively.
The Disciplinary Committee in their suspension letter alleged that Hon. Udoba, by-passes the party leaders in the LGA; holds meeting in his personal residence and also gave financial support to an APC aspirant in the last election. As a result of the allegations, according to the letter, Udoba and Morba stand suspended. It stated, “Having been given the notice by the Disciplinary Committee and invitation to appear before us, and you refused to honour it; it is obvious that you have no regards for the party and therefore left us with no choice than to sanction you in accordance with constitution on account of the foregoing. You are hereby suspended from the party alongside your ward chairman, Umueze Anam, Ward II.”
The other faction in their letter, dated February 17, 2022 suspended Hon. Onyeaka, Akubueze and Okafor. They alleged that the officers do not carry party members along especially as it concerns financial dealings. They accused the officers of also blackmailing aspirants and thereby extorting them for personal benefits. It specifically alleged that Hon. Onyeaka did not deliver his ward in the last election. Following the allegations, the faction in a meeting convened by the Local Government working Committee of the party in accordance with the 2019 Constitution of the party as amended, passed a vote of no confidence on the affected individuals and recommended an indefinite suspension.
The recommendation was allegedly signed by the LGA Executive Committee members, eight ward chairmen, secretaries and major stakeholders of the party. In a report circulated in Anambra West platforms, it noted that Mr. Ofoma Okonkwo moved a motion for immediate replacement of the suspended members and it was seconded by Secretary, Oroma Etiti Anam ward Mr. Okafor Sunday. The Committee later elected in acting capacity, Hon. Charles Chibuko Akwolu, Chairman; Mr. Ephraim Ebeatu, Secretary while Mr. Ozoemena Boniface Obuka serves as the new Youth leader.
As more revelations are awaited after APGA stakeholders meeting today February 19, it is clear that all is not well. Sometime last year; there was a protest by some party members; the party later said, it was an internal affair. Just last month, a stakeholders’ meeting was scheduled on January 28, the now allegedly suspended chairman said it was a charade as he was not aware of the meeting.
