Why We Petitioned Buhari Over Enugu APC Crisis – Group

Concerned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state have explained why they petitioned President Mohammed Buhari to intervene in the crisis rocking the party in the state.

Addressing journalists, weekend in Abuja, on behalf of the stakeholders, APC Acting Chairman in Enugu state, Adolphus C. Ude, alongside Hon Ejike Njeze and Ejike Ugwu, decried attempts by the suspended chairman of the party in the state, Dr Ben Nwoye, to take over the party secretariat.

In the petition, also copied to the Inspector General of Police, DG DSS and the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, they urged Buhari to avert an impending mayhem and bloodletting as the competing factions were bent on taking hold of the state secretariat in spite of many unresolved issues.

They warned the party leadership that the factional crisis could harm the party’s performance in the 2019 general elections.

“During the 2015 elections, our party recorded an abysmal outing in the state because of the dubious activities of those nominated to oversee its activities in the state.

“We seek your intervention on corruption in APC in Enugu state under the embattled chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye and the Zonal South-east Vice Chairman, Emmanuel Eneukwu,” Njeze, who convened the parley said.

He explained that the state working committee suspended Nwoye, following various allegations including embezzlement, misappropriation of campaign funds, signing of party cheques without authorisation by the state working committee, anti-party activities, high-handedness and breach of party constitution.

Njeze stated that the erstwhile chairman’s suspension was affirmed by the state executive committee, just as an independent committee set up by the party leadership to objectively investigate the allegations against Nwoye, followed constitutional processes.

According to him, rather than submit himself to investigation, the embattled chairman, refused to answer all summons by setting up a panel that suspended those who petitioned against him.

He alleged that the zonal vice chairman, Eneukwu and the party’s National Working Committee have not been able to intervene partly because Eneukwu is collaborating with Nwoye as moles in the party and are running the party aground.

Twenty members of the party at the state, including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reforms, Juliet Ibekaku, were allegedly suspended by Nwoye.