Enugu APC leaders wade into party crisis, back chairman, endorse deputy’s, suspension

From: Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Enugu state, under the aegis of the State Caucus of the State Chapter of the party at the weekend backed Dr. Ben Nwoye as the State Chairman of the party.

The party has been embroiled in minor crisis leading to the suspension and counter suspension of some members of the State Executive Committee and other members of the party.

The caucus endorsed the suspension of the State Deputy Chairman, Adolphus Udeh and others involved in the invasion of the State Party Office on July 3, 2017.

The Chairman of the party’s Reconciliation Committee (a standing committee), former military administrator of Gombe state, Group Capt. Joe Orji, read the resolution of the caucus after its meeting that lasted close to midnight on Friday, at the Nike Lake Resort Enugu.

The caucus said, “We condemn in strong terms the invasion of the Party Office by the State Deputy Chairman, Adolphus Udeh and his Group on Monday 3, 2017. The caucus directs that the State Deputy Chairman and the other suspended Party members involved be invited to the next meeting of the caucus,” the resolution reads.
The caucus meeting which was the second after its inauguration last month, was attended by major stakeholders and party elders including, the National Vice Chairman, South East, Chief Emma Eneukwu; former Governor of old Anambra State, Sen Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime; Group Capt. Joe Oji; former Speaker of the State Assembly, Eugene Odoh; a former member of the House of Representatives, Uchenna Ekwe; the chairman of contact and mobilization committee of the party,
Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu and Nigeria’s Ambassador to India, Maj. Gen. Chris Eze (Rtd).
Others are; former governorship candidate of the party in 2015, Okey Ezea; business tycoon and party financier, Emperor Chris Baywood-Ibe; two transport moguls, Evang. Sam Onyishi (MD Peace Mass Transit Ltd) and former secretary to Enugu state Government, Onyemuche Nnamani (MD Autor Star Transport Ltd); former Chairman of Enugu North LGA, G. B. Onoh; former Commissioner, Mathias Omeh; and others.

Responding to questions from journalists, Group Capt Oji stated that the caucus took into consideration the need to give those affected fair hearing hence the directive to invite them to the next caucus meeting. He said that APC was offering a big change which encompasses attitudinal and character changes.

“We are aware we have new members. The party is open to accept new members. However, the party will not tolerate indiscipline,” he said.
It will be recalled that Udeh led some members to break into the party secretariat on July 3, 2017
and announced the suspension of the chairman, Dr. Nwoye over sundry issues.
The State Executive of Party was convened the following day, July 4, wherein the SEC resolved to expel Udeh and suspend 18 other members that participated in the “coup-d’état”.

The SEC same day also announced the suspension of Barr. Juliet Ibekaku, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Judicial Reform, for allegedly masterminding the crisis in the party.
But the State Caucus thereafter converted the expulsion of Udeh to suspension, saying it was the National Executive Committee of the party that can ratify the expulsion of any member.