From Nonye Udumiri,
Aba
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia state Prince Paul Ikonne has been accused of anti party comments.
A Concerned Group under the Abia APC said that it is unfortunate that the Executive Secretary of National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Ikonne could make such a comment two days before the House of Representatives bye-election for Aba North/South federal Constituency.
Ikonne shocked the entire city of Aba on Thursday when he on a local radio station, urged residents to vote for any party of their choice since according to him, his party, the APC had no candidate as a disqualified aspirant went to court.
He also alleged that the APC denied many aspirants of opportunity to purchase forms and accused the party leadership of not allowing internal democracy.
Reacting, the APC Concerned Group in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Godwin Madu, described Ikonne as a “leopard” that cannot change its skin adding that they were “not surprised about his outburst”.
He said, “This is a man that APC gave an executive position. He forgot that without the party he belongs nowhere and can’t be an Executive Secretary of NLDA.
“Going on air to campaign against a party that is trying to gain roots in Abia and the South East in general is not only the height of party indiscipline, but the most embarrassing thing to do.”We call on all our supporters to ignore Paul Ikonne as it has been his tradition since 2015 to discredit the party. “He has always been compensated by the PDP for these disruptive tendencies.”
The group went on to re-emphasize earlier call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Ikonne and appoint another person from Abia that has the interest of the party at heart.