Again, Anambra APC suspends chairman, says ‘array of suspensions in party shows that all is not well’

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Caretaker Committee of the Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended its chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, accusing him of leadership incompetence that culminated in the defeat of the party in the just concluded governorship election in the State.

This is the second time Chief Ejidike is being suspended from the party in a space of one week, following an earlier suspension slammed on him by a stakeholder of the state chapter’s executive committee.

It would be recalled that Chief Ejidike, who penultimate week, announced the suspension of the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chief Okeluo Madukaife, was barely a week later himself suspended.

Madukaife was reportedly suspended for recognizing the victory of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Charles Soludo, during the just-concluded state governorship election. A decision the party spokesman has since dismissed as ‘unserious.’

However, in a twist, a stakeholder of the party, Okonkwo Okom, announced the suspension of the state chairman, Ejidike, at a press conference in Awka, last Thursday, explaining that Ejidike was suspended because he refused to convene a state congress of the party to tackle pressing and urgent matters, despite repeated demands to do so as stipulated by the party’s constitution.

He said the state chapter of the APC jointly convened by not less than two-thirds of the members of the state executive committee and not less than two-thirds of the 21 Local Government Area Chairmen of the APC with the mandate of the 326 Ward Chairmen in the state decided to suspend Ejidike.

The latest suspension order on Ejidike was part of resolution reached during the Anambra APC’s meeting held in the Secretariat of the party in Awka and a committee set up to investigate his alleged inactions.

The resolution was endorsed by the State Secretary of the Party, Mr Chukwuma Agufugo.

The party further resolved to commence reconciliation process with a view to pacifying some aggrieved chieftains of the party.

The resolution reads, “Events in our dear party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra State Chapter in the last couple of days have not been particularly fascinating considering our poor outing in the just concluded Governorship election three weeks ago.

“The alleged suspension of the State Publicity Secretary Arc Okelo Madukife by the State Chairman and now the suspension of the State Chairman Chief Basil Ejidike all certify the above assertion.

“Political parties are set up to mobilise membership, campaign, run and win elections and not for internal bickering among members. Perennial failure and continuous internal rangling in our party calls for soul searching.

“It is bad enough that APC was not declared winner of the 2021 governorship election, a situation occasioned by several reasons according to our preliminary assessment.

“The array of suspension in APC Anambra State chapter shows that all is not well, hence the need for unity and refocus.

“The State Working Committee has received an official letter of suspension of the State Caretaker Committee chairman and has deliberated on that and other matters.  As a result, it requested the Caretaker Chairman Chief Basil Ejidike to step aside.

“Consequently, a five man investigation committee will immediately be constituted to look into the matter and turn in report.

“We also resolved that in the spirit of pursuing the right course, it is important to reach out to Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige (Onwa), the leader of the party for consultation with other leaders including Sen. Dr. Andy Uba, Chief Dr. George Moghalu, Bar. Sharon Ikeazo, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Hon. Azuka Okwosa, Engr Johnbosco Onunkwo, Engr Bart Nwibe, Engr Nelson Onubuogu, all former Governorship aspirants and other leaders too numerous to mention.

“We hope to very quickly request and summon a caucus meeting where we shall present the report of the investigation committee and also for leaders to meet one on one to brainstorm on the way forward. Thereafter a stakeholders meeting will be held.

“We hope that you consider this misunderstanding an internal family issue that does not need to be blown out of proportion because it can only get worse before it gets better and this is the first point of recovery.”