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Unless something drastic is done, and urgently too, the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state might fester and deteriorate, as foundation members in Enugu North Senatorial Zone are disenchanted over what the called exclusion and negligence of the state government.
A statement issued on Thursday, a chieftain and former Director of Research, Strategy and Intelligence Matters at the APC National headquarters, Abuja, Barth Ifeanyi Ugwoke Esq. the founding members of the party alleged that Governor Peter Mbah was systematically excluding them from party structures and elective positions.
The statement noted that the alleged exclusion had triggered some defections to opposition parties.
The group warned that the development could plunge the APC into an irreparable crisis if urgent steps were not taken to address their grievances.
According to the group, the development prompted an emergency meeting of the foundation and old party members across the six local government areas of Enugu North senatorial district to ascertain their grievances.
“This alarming development compelled us to convene an emergency meeting of foundation and old members across the six Local Government Areas of Enugu North Senatorial District to ascertain their grievances firsthand.
“It is shocking and utterly unacceptable that even the names of our members shortlisted for mere Ex-Officio and vice positions in Ward and LGA Executives are being maliciously expunged.
“In the entire 106 wards of Enugu North Senatorial District, only one female from the foundation/old APC bloc was considered worthy of a councillorship ticket.
“Across all 17 LGAs of Enugu State, not a single foundation member was deemed qualified for LGA Chairmanship.
“No foundation member was considered for any elective position during the primaries statewide, except for one woman who was reluctantly conceded a State House of Assembly ticket under the guise of gender balance after intense agitation.
“Without that protest, nothing would have been offered.
“We have been pushed to the wall and will no longer remain silent. The truth must prevail. We will not fold our arms and watch the solid foundation we built with our blood and sweat be destroyed by political newcomers,” the statement added.
They faulted what they described as Governor Mbah’s silence in the face of complaints, calling on influential party leaders to intervene before the situation deteriorated.
The group then urged the APC national leadership and other party stakeholders to urgently intervene, warning that failure to reconcile the aggrieved members could threaten the party’s cohesion in Enugu state.
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