|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Iheanachor Isaac, Abakiliki
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ebonyi state chapter yesterday denied any form of marginalization against old members of the party in the state.
This is sequel to the statement credited to a stakeholder of the ruling party, Engr. Paul Okorie who claimed that old members were being sidelined by the present leadership in the state ahead of 2023 elections.
Umahi had in November 2020 decamped from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
But Okorie’s statement came few days the state governor has endorsed the embattled speaker, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru to succeed him in office.
The state Chairman, Hon. Stanley Emegha who disagreed with Okorie’s view, said on Sunday that both old and new members of the party, formed the existing political structures in the state.
This he said include the state executive council and party positions.
Emegha further called on the public to disregard such statement, stressing that there is no substantial evidence to that effect.
He note that Okorie and his group were often in aatitude of oppose any decision taken by the leadership of the party when it failed in their favour.
His words:.”In the said publication, Engr. Paul Okorie alleged that the Old APC Members in the State have been sidelined in the affairs of the Party ahead of the 2023 general elections in the State, which we regard as a sheer personal hatred of the leadership of Governor Umahi, because he cannot give any substantial evidence to that effect.
“In a simple definition, what Engr. Paul Okorie and his co-internal party group are doing proves that they are determined to oppose any decision taken by the leadership/entire Stakeholders of the Party in the State whenever it does not favour them.
“Again, the Party structures ranging from Ward to State level constitute both the Old and the New Members of the Party as agreed and elected by the two parties.
“Therefore, the aphorism that the Governor hijacked the Party structures, as asserted and complained by Engr. Okorie and his group, is a false statement.
The state APC chairman however beckoned on the national leadership of the party to appeal to those aggrieved members to see reasons on the endorsement in favour of the speaker.
“Sir, (APC NWC) we plead with you to use your good office to make the aggrieved members see reasons with the position of the leadership of Ebonyi State APC and the government of the State ably led by His Engr. David Nweze Umahi, having in mind that we can only win elections if we are united.”
