National Working Committee (NWC) members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have allegedly demanded N100 million as severance allowance, a request that may throw a spanner in the works of the national convention on Saturday, June 6.
Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has reportedly put his foot down that no member of the NWC should be returned at the convention.
A source who was present at an NWC meeting in Abuja said Obiano asked all the 27 members to hands off the affairs ahead of the convention where new members would be elected.
NWC members, who are the organisers of the convention, are not happy with the idea and feel that they would end up being used and dumped, hence their alleged demand for the payment of N100 million each.
Some members of the NWC are agitating that the venue of the convention should be shifted from Awka to Abuja for security reasons, a move allegedly sponsored by some aspirants to the APGA chairmanship.
Chairmanship contenders
Those vying for the post include APGA Imo governorship candidate, Emmanuel Iheanacho; National Secretary, Sani Shinkafi; former South East Zonal Secretary Edozie Njoku; former Deputy National Chairman, Onwuka Ukria, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke; and Austin Ndigwe.
Some aspirants see the presence of Shinkafi in the race as a minus for them because his incumbency factor would enhance his chances.
A lot of work is being done on the list of delegates from the North East, North West, North Central, South West, and South South where aspirants have been building up support.
It is alleged that Shinkafi is single handedly compiling lists in some Northern states where he faces opposition from former governorship candidates.
Party stakeholders are asking the question whether Obiano wants to work with pre-existing aspirants building up delegates or will endorse a candidate without a delegates’ base.
APC weighs in
While the question remains unanswered, Northern aspirants and their supporters appear to have perfected plans to wrestle the post of national chairman from the South East and have allegedly discussed funding with All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains.
The APC is said to be using APGA to reduce the influence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East and South South, and the election of an APGA chairman from the North would help the cause.
But APGA chieftains from the North who are uncomfortable with the ambition of Shinkafi are supporting Njoku, who also has the backing of most state chairmen.
A group known as APGA Integrity Forum (AIF) has offered Shinkafi the position of Deputy National Chairman (North), which he allegedly turned down.
Dispute over zoning
There is disagreement among party leaders over which zone is to produce the national chairman.
Former Anambra APGA Secretary, Okorie Akirika, said: “Issue of who leads the party is subject to many variables, size of the political party, electoral fortunes, existence of capable hands and the vision and mission of the party, both in the long term and short term.
“When you put all of them together you will find out that from the time APGA took part in its first election in 2003, Anambra State has always been not just the home of the party but a fertile election ground for the party.
“So, it will not be out of place if Anambra produces the next national chairman.”
APGA’s reaction
However, state APGA Chairman, Mike Kwentoh, insisted that these are baseless rumours from the enemies of the party to malign its image.
He said although he is not a member of the NWC, the demand is impossible and anti-party, and should be disregarded by APGA members.
