Petition National Chairman, others
Titus Eleweke South East Editor
AWKA, Anambra – A sizeable number of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State have petitioned the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, over what they described as covert moves to undermine the forthcoming Ward, Local Government and State Congresses in the state in order to retain the incumbent party executives.
The aggrieved members resolved to insist on open, inclusive, transparent, free and fair congresses at all levels of the party in Anambra State.
Rising from a key stakeholders’ meeting held in Awka on Sunday, February, the members issued a jointly signed communiqué and petition addressed to the National Chairman, copies of which were also forwarded to other national officers and key stakeholders of the party.
In the documents, they appealed for a popular and transparent congress that would usher in a new set of executives to manage, coordinate and reposition the party in the state.
The members insisted that the tenure of the Chief Basil Ejidike–led executive committee had expired and could no longer be extended by fiat.
According to the petition:
“We, the representatives of the overwhelming majority of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State, respectfully appeal to the National Chairman to ensure that the forthcoming congresses in Anambra State are all-inclusive, open, free and fair, and that every bona fide member of the party is at liberty to contest for any position of his or her choice.
“The APC in Anambra State is presently moribund and in urgent need of reorganisation and reinvigoration.
“The current party executives, from the ward to the state level, are not only inactive but have completely lost momentum. This unfortunate reality culminated in the party’s embarrassing performance in the 2023 presidential election, where Mr. President polled only 5,111 votes in Anambra State.
“For the President to make meaningful political inroads in Anambra State in the 2027 presidential election, and for the APC to regain relevance and vitality in the state, it is imperative that entirely new executives be elected at all levels of the party.”
The petitioners further noted that since the 2023 presidential election, the APC in Anambra State had witnessed a significant influx of new members from other political parties, many of whom outnumber the party’s earlier membership, as reflected in the recent electronic registration exercise.
They argued that these new entrants must be accommodated in the party’s leadership structure to give them a sense of belonging, warning that failure to do so could alienate them and weaken the party further—especially given that Mr. Peter Obi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) hails from Anambra State.
The members also raised serious concerns about alleged attempts by Senator Dr. Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Nze Chidi Duru to derail the congress process.
They recalled that during an expanded APC Anambra State caucus meeting held on February 4, 2026, at Amor Hotels & Suites, Abuja, stakeholders unanimously resolved that the congresses in Anambra State must be open, free and fair, with no restrictions on eligibility to contest.
At that meeting, a committee headed by Senator Dr. Uche Ekwunife was constituted to harmonise ward and local government congress matters and make recommendations to the state caucus for deliberation and adoption.
However, the petitioners alleged that:
“Contrary to the collective decision of the Anambra State caucus, the above-named individuals have issued statements to party executives at all levels in Anambra State, claiming that they have been endorsed to remain in office for another four years and that there will be no all-inclusive, free and fair congresses in the state.
“We are not surprised by this action, as the duo have consistently demonstrated a lack of commitment to the growth of the party, choosing instead to pursue narrow, selfish interests.
This partly explains why the APC recorded only four votes at Hon. Nze Chidi Duru’s polling unit in Nkpologwu village during the 2025 governorship election.”
The members further declared that Senator Dr. Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Nze Chidi Duru do not represent the collective will of the APC in Anambra State, stressing that any list of party executives submitted or endorsed by them should be outrightly rejected by the national leadership.
They warned that any attempt to perpetuate the current executives beyond their tenure would further erode the party’s already fragile structure in the state.
The petitioners therefore urged the National Chairman to use his good offices to ensure that the forthcoming congresses in Anambra State strictly comply with Article 20 of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended) by guaranteeing a transparent, credible and competitive process open to all qualified party members seeking elective positions.
.
