Ahead of the forthcoming All Progressive Congress (APC) Congress across the wards ,local governments and states of the federation, the Abia State chapter of the party seems to be seating on a gourd of gun powder waiting to explode. The crisis brewing in the party if not managed properly may consume the party before the 2023 general elections in the state.
Presently ,the Abia APC has been factionalize into two. One group is been led by the former governor of the state and senator representing Abia North senatorial zone ,Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, while the other group is led by Chief Ikechi Emenike who also led a faction of the party prior to the 2019 general elections but was not recognized by the then APC national working committee led by Adams Oshiomole.
Ahead of the forthcoming APC congress in the state ,the Ikechi Emenike led faction seems to be gathering momentum and some form of recognition from the presidency considering the barrages of federal appointment that members of this faction seems to be getting .
The recent move as gathered by ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives and Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency Rt.Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha and former governorship aspirant of the party in 2019 and a strong chieftain of the APC in Obingwa LGA ,Barr.F.N Nwosu to join the Ikechi Emenike faction of the party is sending a signal that the faction is gaining momentum and may draw the carpet of the feet of the present APC state structure led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Considering that Ikechi Emenike may be nursing a gubernatorial ambition in 2023 and with the love his faction seems to be enjoying from the presidency, things may be different this time compared to what happened in 2019 ,were the faction lack the support of the presidency and the NWC of the party.
If early signs is anything to go bye ,the faction may be welcoming more prominent party chieftains to it’s fold and may even coast to victory in the forthcoming congresses of the party in Abia State.
While speaking with a prominent Chieftain of Orji Uzor Kalu’s faction who wants to remain anonymous, he maintained that Chief Ikechi Emenike is flexing his muscles for nothing.
“Almost all the prominent members of the party are with Honorable Donatus Nwankpa as the current chairman, i know that national working committee will not make a mistake of supporting Ikechi Emenike. Ikechi does not have any form political structure anywhere in the state, he just loves creating confusion which always fizzles out with time.”
“In 2019 he did same thing, in 2015 he did same thing, in fact in every election he does same thing, i am sure that the NWC has all the facts and they will not allow themselves to be deceived”
Another strong follower of Ikechi Emenike revealed that his principal is the only recognized personality in Abia APC at the national level. He maintained that all the appointments Ikechi’s faction is getting is the testimony that Ikechi is the face of APC in Abia State.
More updates coming.