Chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, on Saturday commended the peaceful and hitch-free conduct of the party’s ward congress in the 260 political wards in the state.
The chieftains expressed gratitude as thousands of APC members in shunned the showers of rain to turn-out en mass for the exercise in their various localities.
Former Governor of Old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo said that the enthusiasm and commitment showed by the party members was an indication that Ndi Igbo had understood the need to join a progressive party at the national level.
Senator Nwobodo, who spoke at his Amechi East Ward 1 in Enugu South LGA, said that the large attendance in his ward and elsewhere showed that more people in the South-East are identifying with the party.
He said that it was certain that party members were willing to make the necessary sacrifice for the party to take over the entire zone.
He said: “The large number of people you see here at this ward congress implies that APC is the party to be reckoned with and we are already having massive followership in the South-East and Enugu State.”
On the ward congress in his ward, Nwobodo said that the exercise was very peaceful and conducted in an orderly manner, while party members displayed comportment during the exercise.
He said : “We have to return the former party executives in the ward unopposed. They did very well especially in canvassing and gathering membership for the party in their first term.”
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani praised the party for adopting the open and transparent option A4 for its voting system at the ward congress, saying : “Option A4 and the friendly atmosphere the ward congress election was conducted guarantee its success.”
Nnamani , who spoke at his APC Ward 2 in Amechi-Uwani near Eke-Out Market in Enugu South LGA, said that the tap root of politics is at the ward level, stressing that APC had got it right by putting its house in order from the ward level of politics.
Nnamani said: “Some of the executives were returned unopposed but as you can see now, we have long queues for those that are being contested. And the beauty is that we are applying option A4 to ensure openness.’’ he said.
Chief Emma Eneukwu, National Vice Chairman of APC South-East, Chief Emma Eneukwu saw the entire exercise as “very peaceful and orderly,” adding that the turn-out was “unprecedented in the history of political ward congresses in Enugu.”
Eneukwu, who spoke at his Obinagu Ward in Udi LGA, said that the large turn-out and general comport of all show the importance the party members attached to the exercise.
Commenting on the congress in his ward, he said that the ward executives were returned opposed as the people wish “they continue their good work for the party.”
Chief Ben Eze, Chairman of APC Oji River LGA, said that the turn-out was highly impressive as most wards recorded over 400 members.
Eze, who spoke from his Apugoeze Ward in Oji River, said that we recorded 480 members turning out for the ward congress.
On the congress proper in Apugoeze Ward, he revealed that all the former executives were returned unopposed.
In Ward 4, Enugu South LGA located at Zik Avenue Primary School, Uwani; accreditation and voting went on peacefully and all the members were returned unopposed.
Mr John Nnona, Chairman-elect of the ward, thanked the party members for their comportment and “trust in my leadership all these years’’.
In Akabugwu Ward 1 and 2, the exercise was also peaceful and former executives returned unopposed
