APC Abia LG Congress poll: 15 results released, as Aba North declared inconclusive, Ukwa West withheld

[From BONIFACE OKORO Umuahia]

Abia State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Sunday afternoon, released the results of the Local Government Congresses from 15 out of the 17 local government areas of the state.

Announcing the result of the Congresses conducted last Saturday across the state, the State Chairman, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, said the exercise in Aba North was inconclusive and has been rescheduled to hold Monday, September 6, 2021; while discrepancies discovered in that of Ukwa West were being sorted out.

“The state executive Council met this morning and declared Aba North  Congress inconclusive, and to that effect Aba North Local Government Area will be repeated by tomorrow (Monday) and Ukwa West Local Government Area has discrepancies that were being rectified,”  Nwankpa said while briefing newsmen at the Azikiwe Road State Secretariat of APC.

He explained.that the local government executives emerged through consensus, adding that where that failed, indirect election, using Option A4 was adopted.

He said the exercise was peaceful because grassroots leaders must emerge through the popular choice of the people.

“We believe in fairness, we believe in equal participation, we believe in level playing ground,  we believe in the expression of the will of the people,” Nwankpa said.

Nwankpa further explained that the State chapter had to rely on the ruling of Ukwa High Court to organise the local government congresses because officers sent from the national secretariat arrived Abia Friday, visited INEC by 9 pm and disappeared.

“We acted pursuant to the ruling of Ukwa High Court presided over by Justice C.H.Ahuchaogu which declared any other congress done outside the legally recognized state apparatus of this party as a nullity.

“In line with that and by strength of that position and by strength of the resolution of stakeholders of this party, we have conducted our  Congresses and we will stand by it and we declare this our Congresses as legitimate, right and proper.

“This Congress is done in line with the desire and aspiration of the fastest growing chapter of APC in the whole country.

“I have the mandate of the leader of the party in this state,  Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and other leaders, all members of the State Working Committee and the State Enlarged Executive Council, the 17 local government chairmen, the 184 ward chairmen, and to that effect, that was why they (ward chairmen) were sworn in before this Congress to give what we are doing impetus, legitimacy and to make it valid which will stand the test of law in line with the ongoing court case in Ukwa High Court,” Nwankpa said.

He insisted that any other local government Congress done outside the party executive was illegal.

Nwankpa also announced the setting up of a three-man Appeal Committee to resolve complaints arising from the Local Government Congresses.

The Committee which has 72 hours to complete its assignment is chaired by the Secretary of the party, Barr. Perfect Okorie, with Barr Merenyechi Onuoha Nwokoma, Dr. Mrs Nwokennaya as members, while the party’s Administrative Secretary, Chief Paul Meregini, would serve as Secretary of the Appeal Panel.

“Whatever the Appeal panel comes up with respect to this congress, the party will implement it,” he emphasized.

While announcing the Local Government Congress result, the State Legal Adviser, Barr. Onouha Merenyechi Nwokoma, who also served as the Congress Returning Officer, said the exercise was successfully conducted.

Nwokoma announced the names of those who emerged party chairmen in the15 local governments as follows:

Aba South – Elder Chijioke Nwogu

Arochukwu – John I. Okoro

Bende – Ulu Onwuchekwa

Ikwuano – Ogbonna Mbakwe

Isiala Ngwa North – Mentor Joshua Onyekwere

Isiala Ngwa South – Ezinwa Nwauzor

Obingwa – Hon. Chinedum Ihesiulo

Ohafia – Emma Nwosu

Ukwa West – Temple Nwachukwu

Ugwunagbo – Hon. Chibuzor C.N. Zacchaeus

Isuikwuato – Royal Omokereke

Umummeochi – Ole David O.

Ukwa East – Hon. Ernest Sunday

Umuahia North – Samuel Akagu

Umuahia South -Emenike Uluorji

Osisioma – Chief Ngozi Ukaegbu