The Reconciliation and Peace Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) headed by former National Chairman of the party Senator Victor Umeh yesterday recorded major success when it announced that widow of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Amb Bianca Ojukwu and three founding members of the party and Board of Trustees (BOT) members have returned to the party’s fold.
The committee which was set up by Gov Willie Obiano of Anambra state was charged with the responsibility of reconciling all factions and aggrieved members of the party ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state.
Also the party is awaiting the return of embattled factional gubernatorial candidate of the party Hon Chukwuma Umeoji who has been neck deep in a legal battle over the candidacy and leadership of the party.
According to Sen Victor Umeh who spoke with reporters in Awka yesterday Amb Bianca Ojukwu had meetings with us when we paid her a visit recently and she accepted to return to our fold and work for the victory of the party in the November governorship election in Anambra state.
We visited her and after fruitful discussions she accepted to join us back to the party and she is now championing the party’s campaign for the November election. Bianca Ojukwu had left the party following the outcome of the National Assembly primary election of the party which didn’t favor her.
Also the three founding members of the party under the leadership of the then National chairman Chief Chekwas Okorie who had earlier gone to court to challenge the 2019 National Convention of the party at Kwale High Court yesterday announced that the withdrawal of their suit which is pending was in the interest of the party promising to work for the victory of the party in the coming election.
According to Bar Mike Adams, Ogomentu first National Publicity Secretary and Chief Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi, first Deputy Chairman of APGA and later National Vice Chairman South West;
“We are withdrawing from the suit in the interest of peace in the party because there is no point overhearing the party and again our party is going for election in Anambra state and we urge other aggrieved members to forget about those litigations and come back to the party.;
“We have a good and acceptable candidate in the person of Prof Charles Soludo and if we continue this way our party stands the chance of losing the election’’ they said.
Continuing Umeh confirmed that two aspirants of the party Mr Nonso Smart and Mr Udua Uzoka has returned to the party to support the candidate Soludo in the coming election expressing hopes to meet with Umeoji.
“Apart from Amb Bianca Ojukwu,Nonso Smart and Mr Udua Uzoka have returned to the party and we also invited Him Chukwuma Umeoji who was elected Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area under APGA and also a member of the Federal House of Representatives under the party and we have strong hopes that he will join us because we have reached out to him for talks which he confirmed.
He expressed optimism that, certainly the tussle of who flies the party’s ticket in the forthcoming Anambra state governorship election was coming to an end. According to him, the ongoing political power tussle is a proof to Nigerians that APGA, remains the third largest and recognized political party in the country.
“The political tussle between Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Honourable Michael Chukwuma Umeorji over who flies the party’s ticket in November 6th, 2021 governorship election in the state will soon come to an end” he said.
Prof. Soludo and Hon. Umeorji, has been on the political battle of who flies the party’s ticket, immediately after a parallel primary election held in which Victor Oye-led faction produced Soludo while Jude Okeke-led faction produced Umeorji as the party candidates respectively.
According to him, it had become necessary to bring members of the party in Anambra together as one family in order to successfully confront the various tasks ahead, especially, the forthcoming election.
Umeh said, the party as a political organization is bound to have its challenges and the challenges would make the party more stronger.
“However, the important thing is that the ideals for which this party was established in 2002 must be protected no matter the interest anybody is pursuing in this party” he stated.
He appealed to Jude Okeke and his supporters to sheath their swords and allowed peace to reign in the party for the sake of the 2023 general election.
“We are withdrawing from the suit in the interest of peace in the party because there is no point overhearing the party and again our party is going for election in Anambra state and we urge other aggrieved members to forget about those litigations and come back to the party. We have a good and acceptable candidate in the person of Prof Charles Soludo and if we continue this way our party stands the chance of losing the election’’ they said. Continuing Umeh confirmed that two aspirants of the party Mr Nonso Smart and Mr Udua Uzoka has returned to the party to support the candidate Soludo in the coming election expressing hopes to meet with Umeoji.’’ Apart from Amb Bianca Ojukwu,Nonso Smart and Mr Udua Uzoka have returned to the party and we also invited Him Chukwuma Umeoji who was elected Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area under APGA and also a member of the Federal House of Representatives under the party and we have strong hopes that he will join us because we have reached out to him for talks which he confirmed.’’
