A significant internal conflict has erupted within the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with a founding member issuing a strong warning to the state's governor.
Okechukwu's Stern Appeal to Governor Mbah
Osita Okechukwu, a foundation member of the APC, has publicly called on Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to resist rewarding a faction he labels as "political bandits." This appeal is directed at the group led by the immediate past chairman of the party in the state, Ugochukwu Agballah. Okechukwu's statement comes amid the ongoing composition of ward and local council executives across Enugu.
While acknowledging Governor Mbah as the new leader of the APC in Enugu, Okechukwu expressed deep concern over circulating reports. These reports suggest that two of the four slots allocated to the APC in a proposed nine-member ward and council executive structure have been handed to Agballah's camp.
Questioning the Basis for Reward
Okechukwu vehemently questioned the rationale behind such a gesture. He asked on what "valid ground or good conscience" the governor would reward someone he described as "a serial renegade." The APC chieftain linked Agballah's leadership to a disastrous electoral performance.
He recalled that under Agballah's watch, the APC secured a meager 4,722 votes in Enugu State during the 2023 presidential election. This was a catastrophic drop from the over 56,000 votes the party garnered in the 2019 presidential election, despite extensive membership drives before the 2023 polls.
Okechukwu argued that Agballah "led a political coup" that contributed significantly to the party's poor showing. Therefore, he urged Governor Mbah to prioritize equity and fairness in composing the party's executive committees.
A Counter-Proposal and a Fierce Rebuttal
In a pointed suggestion, Okechukwu stated that if Governor Mbah holds Agballah in such high esteem despite widespread reservations, then fairness should compel a different allocation. He proposed that any slots for Agballah should come from the five slots belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the arrangement, not from the APC's share.
Ugochukwu Agballah, the former chairman at the center of the storm, issued a strong rebuttal. He defended his tenure, stating that he ran the most transparent administration in the APC's history in Enugu. Agballah claimed that over 20 wards in the state had no party presence when he assumed leadership.
He also launched a counter-attack against Okechukwu, accusing him of never supporting the APC and engaging in anti-party activities during the last general elections. Agballah noted that these alleged actions led to Okechukwu's suspension from the party.
Implications for APC's Future in Enugu
This public spat highlights the deep-seated factions and unresolved grievances within the Enugu APC. The outcome of Governor Mbah's decisions regarding the executive appointments will be crucial. It will signal whether the party leadership intends to reconcile warring factions or risk further alienation of key stakeholders.
The dispute underscores the challenges of managing party structures and rewarding loyalty versus electoral performance. As the new political leader of the APC in the state, Governor Mbah's handling of this sensitive matter could either unite the party ahead of future elections or deepen its internal crises.
