Cracks in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) widened after the national convention last week as aggrieved members vowed to register a new political party representing the Igbo.
The faction dismissed the convention held in Awka, contending that APGA is now for the people of Anambra State and is no longer a pan Igbo thing.
The evidence
Former APGA National Chairman, Victor Umeh, is from Anambra along with its Board of Trustees Chairman, Governor Willie Obiano.
Three key posts went to people from Anambra at the convention – Victor Oye (National Chairman); Mike Kwentoh (National Organising Secretary); and Ifeatu Obi-Okoye (Anambra State Chairman).
Supporters of APGA Imo governorship candidate, Emmanuel Iheanacho, who had been tipped for the national chairmanship, have urged him to join the proposed party.
Iheanacho was absent at the national convention because of alleged disagreement with the zoning of national executive positions.
Case against Anambra dominance
One of his supporters, Josephat Ibeawuchi, told TheNiche that “do you need anybody to tell you that nobody is welcomed in APGA outside Anambra State? Umeh was National Chairman from Anambra State, Peter Obi and the late Odumegwu Ojukwu at some points were BOT Chairmen from Anambra State.
“Now we have one Victor Oye from Anambra as National Chairman with Obiano as BOT Chairman. They merely zoned the posts of woman leader and legal adviser to Imo State and other non-sensitive positions to other states in the South East.
“The choice of Labaran Maku is a smokescreen to deceive Nigerians so that it would appear that the party has spread.
“We are calling on our brothers, like Iheanacho of Imo State and Alex Otti of Abia State, to leave APGA for Anambra people and join the progressives so that a new political party will be registered which will not discriminate against non Anambra people.”
Njoku laments lack of internal democracy
A chairmanship candidate, Edozie Njoku, who had previously contested for that position twice, warned that “the destruction of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) is as a result of a lack of internal democracy and this is now happening in APGA.”
Njoku confirmed plans by top Igbo politicians to form a new political party.
He said Iheanacho is not happy with the result of the convention but could not say if he will join the new party.
Mathew Ombugaku, a member of APGA in the North Central and former BOT member in Nasarawa, moaned that “we are all witnesses to the charade that took place in Anambra State all in the name of APGA convention.
“This was exactly how my gubernatorial ticket was taken away and given to a PDP member, Labaran Maku. My name was even removed as a member of the Board of Trustees.
“It is clear that APGA is not ready to grow and in due time we shall let the world know where we are going, and only then shall Nigerians know the fate of APGA.”
APGA dismisses break away threat
But Obi-Okoye dismissed the plan for a new Igbo party as mere ranting and insisted that no APGA member will defect, as all factions and interest groups have embraced peace and there is no cause for alarm.
His words: “The law of the land says there is freedom of association and lawful assembly, so there is nothing wrong with people forming another party.
“If they are APGA members, then it becomes a case of bad losers, but there may not be many of them.
“After the convention, those who claimed to be aggrieved chose not to fight but embraced the new national executive of the party. So, I wonder where these other people are coming from to break away from APGA.
“They may be some PDP members who are sad that their party did not win. They want to start something new. I wish them luck.”
Other grouses
Former APGA National Working Committee (NWC) members had allegedly demanded N2.7 billion million as severance allowance before the convention because Obiano reportedly put his foot down that no member of the NWC should be re-elected.
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, organisers of the convention, were not happy with the idea and felt that they would end up being used and dumped. They allegedly demand N100 million each.
Some members of the NWC wanted the convention shifted from Awka to Abuja for security reasons, a move allegedly sponsored by some aspirants to the APGA chairmanship.