National Convention: Emenike Camp tackles Kalu over Abia APC delegates’ list
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Controversy surrounding list of certified Abia statutory delegates to the forthcoming March 26 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja has continued to rage, with the High Chief Ikechi Emenike faction in the state declaring that the names contained in the document being bandied by Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor-Kalu, was unknown to the party.
The High Chief Emenike faction is the one recognized by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) which constitute the current Nationa Working Committee (NWC) of APC.
Although Senator Kalu has been playing neutral right from the Ikwuano caucus meeting where leaders of the Abia APC allegedly suspended Chief Emenike from the party, the Senator is suspected to have sympathy for the Chief Donatus Nwankpa-led faction of Abia APC sidelined by the NWC.
The Senate Chief Whip had, few days ago, forwarded what he described as authentic list of Statutory delegates,” comprising names of past and elected current serving members of the state and National Assemblies to Buni, insisting that the letter was to check impersonation of the delegates.
Kalu’s letter, with the title “Forwarding of the list of statutory delegates from Abia State (APC) to the 2022 National Convention,’ read in part:
“I write as the Chief Whip of the Senate of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Leader of APC in Abia State, to convey to Your Excellency, the attached authentic list of statutory delegates from Abia State (APC Chapter) as required and provided for in the constitution of our great party, APC, for the forthcoming National Convention.
“The above motive is necessary to totally avoid the infiltration and importation of fictitious names and designations by some overzealous party men.
“Accordingly, with the above, our great party would have avoided certain landmines and embarrassing litigations, hence this list.
“Your Excellency is kindly advised to treat this as most important,” he said.
But reacting to the Senator’s letter, the Abia APC Publicity Secretary, Okey Ezeala, in a statement in Umuahia Wednesday, declared that the names contained in Senator Kalu’s letter were unknown to the party, insinuating that those picked by Senator Kalu were his friends and political allies in his choice structure.
In the letter titled” Our Party Membership Register Determines Delegates To The National Convention,” Ezeala explained that names of delegates would be generated from the party register.
The letter reads: “The attention of Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to an open letter purportedly authored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, wherein some names unknown to Abia APC leadership appeared as prospective delegates to the proposed 26th March 2022 national convention of APC.
“Abia APC is one family and we respect Senator Orji Kalu and indeed every other Politician’s right to associate with friends, political allies and choice structure, but it is imperative to note that the party’s constitution allows only members of the APC as delegates to the national convention, of which the party’s membership register in Abia will determine – not by supposedly big names, office or social status.
“The Party conducted a nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise as early as last year with enough timeline and media publications to the benefit of party loyalists and interesting members of the public – yet some political merchants with the aim of hijacking the party disregarded the opportunity, thereby losing their membership status till today.”
In tacit reference to the allegation by the Buni camp that Senator Kalu was one of those working to scuttle the holding of the National Convention, Ezeala wrote: “The convention of 26th March 2022 is a child of destiny and those who couldn’t abort it are relentless in all subterfuge to create imaginary relevance.”
He added that “Article 12.1 of APC Constitution is clear about the statutory delegates to the national convention and the Party surely does not need open letters to that effect.”
