Emeruwa Chijindu Emeruwa
The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has revealed the reasons behind the recent suspension of party chieftain, Chief Chikwe Udensi from the party.
Udensi had on 29th of May 2022, emerged the Abia factional gubernatorial candidate of the APGA at a concluded parallel primary elections held by the party, ahead of the main elections in 2023 in the state.
Earlier on same day, the authentic state leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, chaired by Reverend Augustine Ehiemere, had elected the Chancellor and founder of Gregory University in Abia state, Professor Gregory Ibe as its gubernatorial standard-bearer for the 2023 general elections in the state during a concluded primaries that took place at Kolping Society in Umuahia, the Abia capital.
He secured 283 out of the 482 total votes cast at the primaries to defeat close rival and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Etigwe Uwa, who came second with 148 votes while General Ijioma N Ijioma (retd), came third with 36 votes.
Chief Chikwe Udensi came last with only 12 votes while three votes were voided.
Recall that Udensi who was at the venue of the primaries stormed out before the commencement of voting. However, there were also social media reports midway into the exercise that Udensi had emerged winner, but the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Etiaba had earlier in an interview with with newsmen, dismissed it as fake and misleading.
But hinting on the reason that necessiatated suspension slammed on Abia factional party leader which contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of State Working Commmittee (SWC) of APGA in Umuahia, the Abia capital, the state leadership, accused Udensi of sponsoring one Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu who was suspended from the party by the national headquarters in 2014 against the party in Abia state, thereby bringing the party to public odium.
The communique was signed by Rev. Augustine Ehiemere(Chairman),
Sunday Onukwubir (Secretary), Bede Nmerem (Organising Secretary), Lucky Erondu (Zonal Chairman South), Silas Chukwu (State Financial Secretary), Simeon Omeje (Assistant Publicity Secretary), among other 16 members of the State Working Committee of the party.
It was made available to newsmen in umuahia, the state capital on Wednesday.
Continuing, the Abia leadership also accused Udensi of working with some undemocratic forces in the state to cause crises in the party, and which also amounts to gross violation of APGA constitution.
The communique which detailed the party decisions during her meeting stated partly: “Pursuant to a resolution of the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Abia State Chapter dated the 2° day of September, 2022, the Leadership of APGA in Abia State hereby resolves as follows:
“That SIR CHIKWE UDENSI be suspended and is hereby suspended indefinitely from APGA with immediate effect pending the hearng and determination of his case by a disciplinary Committee set up by the party.
The grounds for the suspension By engaging in conducts which have brought the image of the party into public radicle and disrepute contrary to Article 22 (2) (d) of the Constitution.
“By publishing and distributing to the media false articles/materials and Statements with the intention of misinforming the public that there is a crisis in the party and or factions within the party in Abia State contrary to Article 21 (1) (g) of the Constitution.
“Divulging the proceedings and decisions of the party without express authorization thereby misinforming and misrepresenting to the public the decisions/proceedings of the party with the aim of causing disaffection and bringing the party to public odium and ridicule”.
