APC Moves To Resolve Crisis In Anambra Chapter

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken steps to resolve the lingering crisis in the Anambra State  chapter of the party after suffering a defeat in the south eastern state in last year’s govenrorship election.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had set up a reconciliation committee to among others, address the crisis, reconcile aggrieved members and recommend lasting solutions.

At a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja yesterday, the committee’s chairman and APC national deputy chairman (South), Dr Benjamin Nwoye, emphasised the need for unity in the party in the state.

Nwoye warned that the national leadership of the party would not hesitate to wield the big stick, going forward against any recalcitrant member who persists in conduct capable of undermining APC unity, frustrating lawful decisions or serving as an agent of opposition interests in Anambra State.

“Peace requires open arms for sincere members, but it also requires firm consequences for those who deliberately sabotage the collective mission of the APC. The eyes of our members are upon us. The eyes of Anambra voters are upon us.

“The eyes of our national leadership are upon us. Posterity will ask whether, at this turning point, we chose anger or wisdom, division or unity, litigation or dialogue, factional pride or party victory. I believe we will choose wisely,” he said.

Nwoye stated that the committee identified the alleged removal of elected party officials, disputes over candidate substitution after party primaries, litigation instituted without exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms and the alleged expulsion of members without fair hearing as major causes of the crisis.

He said the party’s assignment ahead of the 2027 elections extends beyond President Tinubu’s re-election to securing victories for APC candidates in governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly contests across the country.

“Our responsibility is not only to deliver President Tinubu. We must also ensure victory for our candidates at every level. Delivering only the President while losing other elections would weaken our structures and diminish our influence,” the deputy national chairman said.

The APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Tolu Bankole, said the party was fully aware of what happened during the last governorship election in Anambra, emphasising that the APC could not afford a repeat of the experience.

Bankole said the party failed to rally behind its governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu despite the resources and commitment he invested in the election.

“We know what Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu did and what he spent. Had we all rallied round him after his emergence, we probably would not be here discussing these issues. By now, perhaps, you would have had your state governor.

“We have already lost the opportunity to produce our own governor. We are now approaching another election, the 2027 presidential election. If, by any mistake, we lose that opportunity again, we may not even be talking about APC in Anambra anymore because we have laboured for years,” he added.

For her part, APC National Woman Leader, Dr Mary Alile Idele, said the party must put behind past grievances and focus on the bigger task of delivering President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

“We all went to the field during the last election in Anambra and we saw what happened. It is easy to point fingers at one another, but that is now in the past. We are charting a new course because 2027 is just around the corner. Our mandate is to deliver victory for His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 2027,” she stated.