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By Iheanachor Isaac, Abakaliki
Stakeholders of All Progressives Congress, APC from Izzi clan have disowned the Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru as their consensus governorship aspirant ahead of 2023 elections.
They insisted that the clan would not accept the imposition of any governorship candidate.
The group further called on the National Working Committee of the ruling party led by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu to immediately intervene to save the party from eventual collapse.
Hon Alex Nwofe who led the group disclosed this on Saturday during a press conference held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Nwofe, however described the purported endorsement of the speaker Nwifuru as the clan consensus aspirant which is making round in some quarters of the state including the state owned radio and social media as false.
He explained that 60 stakeholders from the clan were still brainstorming to represent a unanimous aspirant for the party primaries as directed by the governor, when three traditional rulers from the area declared Hon. Nwafuru as the clan consensus aspirant.
“We, therefore, call on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), His Excellency, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and all the National executives of our party to intervene and nip the crisis in the bud before it escalates to ruin the chances of our party in winning the forthcoming general elections.
“We shall not accept imposition of candidates on us as members of the Party in Ebonyi-North zone, particularly of Izzi clan.
“ln view of the recent developments, we the concerned APC stakeholders of Izzi clan/extraction hereby disassociate ourselves from further deliberation on the matter as we have lost confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the members of the Committee to achieve the target as mandated to us by His Excellency, the Governor.
“And these processes are contrary to the democratic norms and practices of due process as applicable to the democratic world, the Electoral Act 2022 as amended and APC Constitution,” he stated.
The crisis started after governor Umahi had on 1st April, 2022 held meeting with stakeholders from Izzi and Ezza clans to produce an acceptable guber candidate for the party primaries.
The group which were over 20 include, a former Ambassador, Chief Michael Udenwe, Chief Nick Ochigbo, Uchenna Nshi, Godwin Nwamkpuma, and many others.
