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The emergence of a former Chairman of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Donatus Nwakpa, as the National Welfare Secretary has been rejected by a faction of the party.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the faction, which identified as Abia APC Caucus and Stakeholders, said that Nwakpa was not the choice of party supporters in the state.
The agitation is coming barely 24 hours after the Abia APC also kicked against what it described as ‘illegal imposition by the NWC,’ saying the party’s constitution must be respected
The Eastern Updates reports that Nwakpa, who was abducted in January 2019 by gunmen while preparing for former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential rally, has been a subject of controversy in Abia following the inauguration of six new zonal officers into the APC NWC.
He was among the six new national officers unveiled by National Secretary of the ruling party, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
Among those inaugurated on Friday were the new National Deputy Chairman for North, Ali Dalori and Dr Mary Alile Idele from Edo State, who was elected for the office of National Women Leader, previously held by Dr Betta Edu.
Other elected officers included Garba Datti Muhammad, who replaced Mallam Salihu Lukman from the same Kaduna State as National Vice Chairman for North West; National Legal Adviser, Prof. AbdulKarim Abubakar Kana from Nasarawa State and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko from Kogi State.
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In Friday’s statement signed by Senator Chris Adighije, the Abia stakeholders stated that their position was a reflection of the mood of the state supporters.
The statement partly read, ‘The above position of the caucus-stakeholders was communicated to the National Chairman in his office through two separate delegations led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Chris Adighije respectively and the National Secretary by a delegation led by Senator Nkechi Nwaogu.
‘Considering that Abia APC does not have a governor and that the Deputy Speaker who is the leader of the party in the state and the stakeholders were not carried along by the NWC in reaching their decision, we hereby call on our National Chairman and the NWC to revisit their earlier decision.
‘May we also call the attention of the President, the leader of our great party to this passionate appeal that will help Abia APC heal from the wounds inflicted on us by similar act of external interference in the activities of our State chapter in times past and allow us to unite and reposition Abia APC for greater prospects under the God-given leadership of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.’
In a swift reaction, another faction of the Abia APC loyal to former Minister, Uche Ogah, has thrown its weight behind Nwankpa’s election as the ruling party’s national welfare secretary.
