Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
At last, all three House of Representatives members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, have recognised Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu as the authentic Chairman of the party in the state.
While the Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives and member representing Isuikwuato-Umunneochi Federal Cconstituency, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has always been with the Chief Ikechi Emenike-backed Ononogbu leadership, the House Spokesman, and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Ben Kalu, has decided to acknowledge Ononogbu.
Other chieftains that recognised Ononogbu were the member representing Ikwuano Umuahia, Chief Sam Onuigbo; and former governorship candidate and lawmaker, Mrs. Kate Nwagba.
Hon. Chijioke Chukwu representing Bende South; his Arochukwu counterpart, Hon. Mike Ukoha; and two-time governorship aspirant, and former Commissioner for Industry, Chief Henry Ikoh are others.
The chieftains who spoke at a fund raiser in Umuahia said the fortunes of the party in 2023 would be secured if they stayed united.
They pledged their loyalty to the Ononugbu-led leadership of the party and expressed optimism that with the wave of unity in APC, the party would dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 polls.
Obioma emerged in a parallel state congress conducted by the former chairman and two-term member of the state House of Assembly on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, Hon Donatus Nwankpa.
Rep. Onuigbo in an interview said that since the Court had affirmed Ononogbu as the authentic Chairman of the party in the state, it was only wise that they queued behind him.
He said that he had always made his position clear, and that there should not be doubts on who the authentic leader of the party is.
Speaking at the occasion, leader of the party in the state, Chief Ikechi Emenike, said the “APC is the only consistent and reliable party with vision,” vowing that PDP will become the opposition party in 2023.
He said that APC was on a rescue mission to reinvent the state.
In a remark, Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the time to seat on the fence on issues concerning the state had gone.
She urged members of the party to take the message of change t every nook and cranny of the state.
According to her, people from both within and outside the country have been asking the leadership of APC what they have been doing about the ugly situation in the state.
Earlier in his address, Ononogbu said the party was open to receiving all willing to return to the fold for a virile APC in the state.
“This great party belongs to all of us, and all our collective inputs are highly needed and if not jointly done, we will be operating without a clear direction.”
Other chieftains of the party present at the event were the national welfare officer of the party, Sir F. N. Nwosu; Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.) who was represented by Navy Commander Ochiabuto Igbokwe; Major-Gen Charles Okoro; and Mr. Theo Ubani.
