Abia State chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) has been hit by a major crises resulting from alleged embezzlement of presidential campaign funds and suspension of chieftains of the party.
So far, eleven chieftains of APC have been suspended by the two factions of the party in Abia for various alleged offenses.
Among those suspected are High Chief Ikechi Emenike, the governorship candidate in March 18 election and Dr Kingsley Ononogbu, the State Chairman of the party.
They were suspended by the Uche Ogah controlled APC faction for alleged anti-party activities, corruption, high handedness among other allegations.
Emenike and Ononogbu’s suspensions letters were signed by Chief Ofor Okorie, the Publicity Secretary of APC in the Uche Ogah faction.
But on Wednesday, the Ikechi Emenike controlled faction which also has the recognition of the national secretariat, announced the suspension of some heavyweights in the party.
Those who fell to the suspension gale were were former minister of State for mines and steel development Dr Uche Ogah, former Deputy Governor of Abia, Dr Chris Akomas, former Abia Central Senator, Senator Nkechi Nwogu and former House of Reps member, Hon Stanley Ohajuruka.
Others were APC senatorial candidate for Abia Central, Hon Sam Onuigbo, Chief Anyim Nyerere and Chief Nduka Anyanwu.
Their suspension was announced by Chidi Avajah, the Secretary of Kingsley Ononogbu-led faction.
The suspensions have thrown the party into more crises, deeper than was witnessed before the 2023 elections.
Dr Uche Ogah was accused of anti-party activities as he was alleged to have donated his campaign bill boards to PDP guber candidate, Chief Okey Ahaiwe.
He was also alleged to have donated his political structure, Abia Rejoice to Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party while also sponsoring his young brother, Amobi Ogah of LP to victory in the House of Representatives contest against Hon Nkeiruka Onyejiocha of APC.
Dr Chris Akomas was also alleged to have supported Chief Okey Ahaiwe of PDP against High Chief Ikechi Emenike of APC during the governorship election.
Hon Sam Onuigbo was suspended for allegedly supporting Hon Chinedum Orji of PDP in the race for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency against APC’s candidate, Chief Obilo Ogbonna.
Senator Nkechi Nwogu was alleged to have worked for the governorship candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP), Engr Enyinnaya Nwafor in Osisioma council against APC’s Ikechi Emenike.
Stanley Ohajuruka and other suspended members were equally suspended for allegedly working against their party during general elections.
But reacting to her suspension, Senator Nkechi Nwogu said her purported suspension would not stand.
She rather accused the guber candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike of not being serious with his governorship ambition.
Nwogu who spoke through Kelechi Boms, a member of APC presidential campaign team, accused Emenike of allegedly hijacking money sent from the national office of APC as presidential election logistics.
Nwogu also accused Emenike of sidelining key stakeholders in the party in running of the party which according to her, accounted for the dismal performance of APC.
“He Emenike did not run for any election. He just pocketed the money sent by the party and did not consult with anybody”, said Boms, on behalf of Senator Nkechi Nwogu.
Also denying any evil doing was Sam Onuigbo, the incumbent House of Reps member for Ikwuano/ Umuahia who heaped the blames of APC’s failure on Emenike’s allegedly high handedness.
He echoed the allegations that Emenike hijacked and embezzled money that was sent from APC headquarters to Abia for election duties.
“They gave him money from the national party and he has to account for how he disbursed it”, Onuigbo fired.
A party source alleged that multi-million naira worth of funds were pumped to different States’ structures of APC for the task of delivering Asiwaju Bola Tinubu before the presidential election which is believed to have sparked upheaval in the party.
