Maduako Igbokwe l Wednesday, December 22, 2021
ONITSHA, Anambra – Crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress APC Anambra state gets messier as the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige and the party candidate at November election senator Andy Uba factions fight dirty over Abuja high court judgment.
The two factions have been entrapped in fight over who controls the party structure in the state immediately after the state governorship election. Ngige faction had alleged that Andy Uba is not the leader of the party, while Uba camp insisted that he remains the party’s authentic leader in the state.
Uba faction in a statement while reacting to the judgment of Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo of Abuja high court that nullified his candidate reiterated that Uba remains the leader in the state.
While Ngige camp distance itself from what it describes as a willful foray into avoidable Contempt of Court by official impersonators who are supposed to be learned men but are led by the nose by pretender candidate.
In a statement by Andy Uba faction, State Publicity Secretary, Barr. Chukwunonso Chinwuba said Sen. Andy Uba remains the candidate of the party and that the judgment of Federal High Court Abuja nullifying his candidature will not stand as the party has concluded plans to appeal against the judgment of Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo.
The statement reads , “Our party call on the party faithful and supporters to remain calm, focus and steadfast as the party is not losing sleep by the judgment as the party and our candidate has the right of appeal upto the Supreme Court level.
“Note that the judgment will not in any way affect our matter that is pending before the tribunal and that it is only the judgment of the Supreme Court will say otherwise. We are confident that the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court will affirm the Candidature of His Excellency Sen. Andy Emmanuel Uba.
“For those who are celebrating the judgment of Hon Justice Inyang Ekwo should remember that the judgment of the trial court will not robe off the candidature of our great party as it is the court of first instance and that the party has the exclusive right to determine who is their candidate. Finally, we call on the party faithful to celebrate their Christmas in a joyful mood”.
Ngige faction in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife said that APC has not issued any statement against the considered judgment of Federal High Court 6,Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo.
The statement distance itself from wilful foray into avoidable Comtempt of the Court by official impersonators who are supposed to be learned men but are led by the nose by pretender candidates.
The statement read “While we grant anyone affected by the judgement the right to notify the public of his, her or their intention to appeal, it should be sufficient for such intention to be registered by the individual or his private assign.
This statement hereby strips Anambra State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) of any responsibility in the needless statement dated December 20,2021 and endorsed in impersonation by one Chukwunonso Chinwuba.
Our great party regrets that we are at the unfortunate point where our party can be stripped of candidature, by a court of competent jurisdiction, confirming what we have always known for a fact.
However sad this may be to us and however depressing it must be to our mood and image, we are mindful that managing this adversity well will lead to the a strong and democratic Anambra APC of the future, where results will not precede the conduct of primaries.
It is not in our character. We were not born as a party before 2007. Furthermore, we shall continue to live above the line of responsibility and utmost respect for the judiciary. Every liability arising from the reference unadventurous statement shall personally lie with the signatory of such unauthorized statement”
