Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
There is no end in sight for the supremacy battle that has engulfed the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the member representing Ikwuano- Umuahia federal constituency, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has told the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike, to account for all the funds he received for the party’s campaigns in Abia.
The House of representatives Committee Chairman on Climate Change who was reacting to his purported suspension by the state leadership of the party, accused Emenike of trying to pocket the party and run it as his private estate.
Ikengaonline had reported that Onuigbo and eight other chieftains of Abia APC, were in a letter signed by the Secretary, Chidi Avajah, suspended for alleged anti-party activities during the just concluded general election.
But Onuigbo who was the Abia central senatorial candidate of the APC in the February 25 national assembly poll, faulted his suspension which he said did not even emanate from his ward.
The lawmaker who said he remained a bonafide member of the APC, insisted that his purported suspension “is of no effect.”
“Suspension of members of a party is based on established anti-party activities. You don’t wake up in the morning and start suspending people; gather men like puppets and ask them to sign suspension letters.
“My Ward didn’t suspend me. I remain a bonafide member of APC, and I’m working here in Abuja with the National leadership, handling some very important matters concerning our party in the state.
“It is appalling that the State Chairman and Secretary of a party where I ran for Senate would say that I am from “Ward 3, Ikwuano LGA.” Apparently, Avajah and Kingsley Ononogbu are unaware of how the wards in Ikwuano are delineated. Neither do they know my ward! That alone should speak to the conspiratorial nature of all the actions taken by the State leaders of the party against me during the election, including not supporting me, and openly campaigning against me. It further shows that this dubious suspension letter has no foundation because it didn’t come from my ward.
“So, I don’t see the basis for such frivolous, and absolutely irresponsible and reckless letter.”
The lawmaker said no amount of diversionary tactics by Chief Emenike and his co traveler would make them escape probe for how the campaign funds for the party candidates in Abia were spent.
“They gave him money from the national party and he has to account for how he disbursed it.
“He was going about campaigning against me instead of campaigning for the APC and the President-Elect. He lost in all the places he campaigned against me including his polling unit.
“Despite all the money that the national leadership confirmed to us that was given to him for Abia, he was only able to deliver a paltry 8000 votes for the President-Elect.”
The APC chieftain denied working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for his federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, contrary to allegation contained in the letter of his purported suspension.
He claimed that the PDP candidate was the reason he left the PDP and joined the APC, saying it sounds illogical for him to turn round and work for the man that made him quit his former party.
“They said that I worked for Hon. Chinedum Orji of the PDP. Such allegation is very ridiculous because it was the same Chinedum Orji that was instrumental to my leaving PDP because he was angling for my position.
“So, how on earth will I go and work for the person who conspired and worked against me because he was angling to take over my position in the House of Representatives? Is it as a reward for his efforts or in recognition of his achievements? He worked with Col. Akobundu for me to leave PDP.”
Onuigbo accused Chief Emenike of destroying Abia APC because of his selfish interests, wondering how he thinks he could run the party without other chieftains. He has turned Abia APC into a small kiosk managed by him alone.
“I have never seen anybody like Emenike who wants to dismantle anywhere that he finds himself.
“For a primary election that I won in the afternoon, the person I defeated was rewarded with ministerial appointment, then Emenike went and brought somebody who was coming in like unknown flying object who never participated in the primary election.
“Ikechi and his team continued to lead that man to eight courts ending up in the Supreme Court where the apex court affirmed my candidacy because the meddlesome interloper never participated in the primary election.”
The lawmaker advised Emenike and his co-travellers who he accused of destroying Abia APC, to stop engaging in actions that would bring further disgrace to the party.
“Chief Ikechi Emenike should be immediately called upon by the National Leadership of our great party to account for the money he was given for all the elections.
