Maduako Igbokwe l Sunday, August 01, 2021
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – The Progressive Movement for Peace (PMP), All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked the news of detection of 12 aspirants that participated in the Anambra state governorship primary election.
The group in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Mr. Emeka Nnebedum stated that only three former aspirants without any political values and relevance have really defected ,while others are still with the party. He said that the party is seriously reconciling all aggrieved members and the outcome is becoming wonderful.
The statement reads in parts:
“The news making the rounds on some online platform purporting that 12 aspirants that participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State, primary election for the forthcoming state governorship election in November, have defected and were on the verge of joining other political parties is fake. .
The said defection comes after series of marathon meetings in the efforts to resolve disagreements between the party and aggrieved aspirants who could not make it, at the party primary election held in June 26, 2021.
We, the members of PMP, wish to state clearly and unambiguously that only three aspirants of very little or no political consequence have made such decision.
They are Chidozie Nwankwo, Ben Etiaba and Geff Onyejegbu. Other aspirants have chosen to remain in the party as reconciliations are still being worked out.
We may also add that these aspirants rather than being assets to the party, are baggages and which a serious minded party shouldn’t take into an election.
For instance, Geff Onyejegbu has some unexplained questions in his career as military officer after being discharged under controversial circumstances. It is also clear why the trio made the desperate dash out of the party given that their purported defection came during the deadline for the closure of substitution window of names by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Their intention was never about service. It has always been about what they can get and the APC members saw through that. We also wish to state that other serious aspirants and authentic members of APC in the state are with the Party. As a group for peace and democracy, we the members believe implicitly in the freedom of association and right to dissociate from any political party according to individual choices. Therefore, the defecting aspirants will not be missed”
