Anambra APC disowns Ngige for not endorsing Tinubu on channels

Maduako Igbokwe l Thursday, October 13, 2022

 

AWKA, Anambra, Nigeria – All Progressive Congress (APC) Anambra State chapter has disowned the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Christ Ngige for not publicly endorsing the party’s presidential candidate  Bola  Tinubu for the 2023 general election.

The Chairman of the  Anambra State APC,  Chief Basil Ejidike dissociated the state party from Ngige’s comment on Chanel television  on  Friday. He stated this on Thursday at a press briefing on the state of Anambra State APC in Awka Anambra state.

According to him, the party has nothing to do with what the minister said on  Channels television. He said that what ever Ngige said was personal opinion and he never said he  represented the party during the interview.

” Ngige never said he represented the party during the interview and whatever he said was personal and does not reflect the position of the party in Anambra state” he said.

Recalled that Chris Ngige,  has on Friday while  appearing on Chanel television   hesitated in endorsing his party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

At the interview ,Dr Ngige, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, said he will make his choice at the ballot. “I’m not active in politics for now because I am facing national assignment,” he said .

When asked his preferred candidate between the APC’s Tinubu and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, he said “both of them are my friends. My choice will be in the ballot box. It is a secret ballot. I shouldn’t tell Nigerians what I would do secretly.”

At the briefing, Ejidike also expressed worry over the activities of one Mr Okelo Madukaife who was the former state publicity secretary of the party.

According to him, Madukaife has been parading himself as the party’s spokesman when he is not a member. He noted that Okelo has been sacked by the party  since 2021 and replaced with one  Valentine Oliobi as the substantive publicity secretary of the party in the state.

He said Okelo was the former publicity secretary of state party and the executive of the party was dissolved  in 2020 while  he was suspended from the party in 2021.

“If the former national chairman of the party Adams Oshiomhole could step aside . I don’t know why Okelo Madukaife is still parading himself as the publicity secretary of state APC. He was  suspended on July 2021 for anti party activities. As a chairman of the party, I’am not aware that Okelo  has been re-admitted into the party. He is not a member of Anambra State APC” he said

According to him, January this year, Anambra State APC conducted  election  and because he was sacked he could not purchase form to  participate in the process.

He said that during the election, Valentine  Iyke Oliobi was elected as the substantive publicity secretary of state APC . Ejidike said that it was clear  that Okelo was only speaking for himself and his  pay masters and not for the party.

“Okelo Madukaife is an impostor and not known by the party in Anambra state as APC member” he said . According to him, despite all the distractions , the party  is committed to delivering Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections in the state.