11th August, 2021
By Ifeoma Aka
Police in Enugu have sealed off the office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to maintain peace and order in the party and the state.
Party leaders and other loyalists were denied access to the office following the crack in the leadership.
This followed a vote of no confidence passed in the party’s chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye, by 42 members of the State Executive Committee of the APC in Enugu on Wednesday.
The committee accused Nwoye of insubordination to statutory authorities and causing division in the party.
They told newsmen that their decision was taken on grounds of gross misconduct and disregard to Party Constitution by the chairman.
Mr Gilbert Chukwunta, the Deputy Chairman said that Nwonye had violated the congress guidelines as spelt out by the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.
Chukwunta was accompanied to the conference by a number of other executive members notably the State Secretary, Chief Robert Eze, and the State Women’s Leader, Oby Nwofor.
Others were State Youth Leader, Mr Joshua Mamah, the State Financial Secretary, Dr Amaka Adonu, as well as a number of other notable party functionaries.
They stated that the EXCO members had come together to rescue the party from its looming dismemberment should Nwoye remain as Chairman.
The committee presented the communique to the 42 members of the State Executive pushing for Nwoye’s removal issued after their meeting.
The communique detailed a number of his actions ranging from his decision to unilaterally inaugurate ward executives who he handpicked, ignoring those elected by the ward delegates.
He said that the inauguration took place even when the results of ward congresses of the party had yet to be ratified by the CECPC.
Chukwwunta said that the ward Congresses held nationwide, were done within set guidelines issued by the national body following the party’s constitution.
He described the exercise in the state as one of the best congresses held nationwide, where all their leaders came together and peacefully elected their ward executives.
“Surprisingly, we saw our Chairman, Ben Nwoye, wake up and swear in people who never contested in the congresses.
‘This was happening even when the results were yet to be ratified by the CECPC, even as the appeals committee is yet to commence its hearing.
‘You will agree with me that this is a flagrant disregard of the guidelines and capable of causing rancour within the party.
‘This act can reduce our chances of winning the 2023 governorship elections and winning the state in the Presidential elections,’’ he said.
They also accused Nwoye of attempting to cause disaffection within the party by encouraging party members to take the party to Court.
The state EXCO unanimously moved for his removal and appointed Chukwwunta, the Deputy State Chairman, as Acting Chairman.
NAN