29, July 226
The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress has issued a strong warning to feuding members of the party in Anambra State.
A fact-finding committee sent from Abuja met with stakeholders in the state on Monday and told them to end the internal crisis or face sanctions.
The committee was led by the Deputy National Chairman South, Ben Nwoye. He said the visit was to identify the root causes of the division and push for peace ahead of future elections. According to him, the disagreements in Anambra were not caused by the national body, but must now be resolved within the party family.
Anambra APC has been in turmoil since the March primary election.
The crisis has produced multiple court cases, street protests by aggrieved members, and a reported court order that sacked the state executive led by Emma Anosike.
Both factions have been laying claim to legitimacy.
Nwoye said after consultations in Abuja, the party had settled who should be in charge in the state.
He declared that Nicholas Ukachukwu and Uche Ekwunife are the recognized leader and deputy leader of APC in Anambra, based on their roles as governorship candidates in the last election.
Deputy National Chairman South added that the positions must be respected by all members.
In a blunt address, the committee chairman said he was not at the meeting to please anyone.
He warned that anyone who behaves like a thug during the reconciliation process would be treated as one. He stressed that factional identity should be set aside for the sake of unity.
The committee laid out two possible options.
One is to dissolve the executives of both factions.
The other is to recognize the Emma Anosike-led executive as the authentic state leadership.
Nwoye said the party will not tolerate disrespect for its leaders regardless of camp.
He called on all leaders to embrace dialogue, allow grievances to be aired, admit mistakes, and use authority to unite rather than intimidate.
Nwoye noted that peace efforts must reach the grassroots, warning that ignoring genuine members leaves the party open to rumors and manipulation.
The meeting featured remarks from key actors in both factions.
The committee said it took note of all submissions and will report back to the national leadership.
Members of the delegation included the National Woman Leader, Mary Alile Idele, Deputy National Secretary Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, National Legal Adviser Murtala Aliyu Kankia, and the National Leader for Persons with Disabilities, Tolu Bankole.
