The crisis rocking Anambra state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the party’s candidate in last month’s governorship election, Senator Andy Uba, have shifted their battle to Abuja.
The Anambra State chapter of APC was plunged into crisis after Ngige reportedly withdrew his support for Uba in the buildup to the election.
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Ngige had initially kicked against the processes that threw up the Party’s gubernatorial candidate before distancing himself from the party’s quest to clinch the Anambra State Government House.
But soon after the November 6, 2021 governorship election, the Minister made a dramatic return, with an intent to superintendent over the forthcoming state congress, where new executives to run the affairs of the party in the next four years would be chosen.
According to a former House of Representatives member in the state, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Ngige cannot “abandon his troops in war time and seek a return to lead this same beleaguered people in peace time”.
Afam Ogene, who was director, Media and Publicity of the party’s governorship campaign council, also rejected the fresh move by Ngige.
However, both contending groups have fixed meetings of the State Caucus of the party for Friday in Abuja.
Ngige group, according to an invitation sent out by embattled state secretary of the party, Chukwuma Agufugo, will hold meeting at the Justice Mohammed Bello, Asokoro residence of the Minister.
While the group loyal to Uba and the current deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, will be holding their own parley somewhere in the Maitama area of the city.
The Andy Uba group members include the state party chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, current and former national and state Assembly members of the party, former gubernatorial aspirants and 14 out of 17 members of the state working committee of the party.
According a source in the party, the number of State Caucus members who attend any of the two meetings would go a long way in determining where the leadership balance will tilt.
The sources said caucus comprises of persons listed under Article 12.9 of the APC Constitution (2014 As Amended).
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