Two APC factions emerge in Abia

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in a harmonised congress in Abia on Tuesday elected a 35 member executive to run its affairs.

A faction of the party held a congress on Monday that produced Mr Fabian Okonkwo as the Chairman.

The congress was conducted at the National War Museum, Umuahia, by Mr Sunday Akere, Chairman of the state congress committee.

The harmonised congress, which produced Chief Donatus Nwankpa, as Chairman, was conducted by the Congress Committee Secretary, Mr Iyke Ibe and Mr Chris Amah, a member of the committee.

NAN reports that Nwankpa until the harmonised congress was the APC interim chairman in Abia.

Nwankpa told newsmen in Umuahia that the new executive emerged after the harmonisation of the outcome of the ward and local government congresses.

He explained that the new leadership was elected in line with a directive by the party’s national secretariat.

Nwankpa described the Monday congress at the museum as illegal and a flagrant abuse of the party’s directive.

The chairman said that the list of the executive elected at the harmonised congress had been forwarded to the national secretariat.

He expressed the hope that the national secretariat would endorse it because it followed due process.

Nwankpa described the crisis rocking the party in the wake of the congresses as “an ill-wind that is blowing in the party”, adding that “it is a family matter and will be resolved amicably”.

Reacting to the development, Akere told newsmen that he had the approval of the national secretariat to conduct the congress in spite of the dissension by the congress committee secretary and member.