Mbaitoli APC Executive Committee Sends Strong Signal

… As LGA Deputy Chairman, Hon Chief Kelechi Obi, Assumes The Position Of Acting Chairman.



It was all jubilation in Mbaitoli Local Government Area Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as the LGA Executive Committee took full control of the Party Structure, sending strong signal to leaders who have been usurping its functions and activities, due to the absence of the LGA party Chairman, for several months.

This was sequel to a Motion urging the Deputy Chairman of the party to step in as the Chairman, in Acting Capacity, to give the party a reawakening direction.

Moving the Motion, in a well attended Exco meeting by the Mbaitoli APC Executive Committee on Tuesday 16th July 2024, at the Local Government Party Secretariat, the Ward Chairman Of Amaike Ward, Hon Nick Anusiem,  observed that the APC LGA Chairman, Hon Chinonye Agugbo, has been away from his duties for several months, as he is said to have traveled outside the country, without the official knowledge of the party. Hon Nick Anusiem further observed that the lacuna created by the absence of the Chairman for several months, has affected the running of the party in the LGA, taking into cognizance, the Constitution of the party, which stipulates that in the absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman should step in, in Acting Capacity, and for the smooth running and sailing of the party in the LGA.

In his words, Hon Nick Anusiem said, “I so move that the LGA Deputy Chairman, Hon Chief Kelechi Obi, should step in and assume full responsibility of the party leadership in the LGA, in Acting Capacity, pending the return of the substantive Chairman. Also, Be It Resolved By This Executive Committee to cause the Secretary, Hon Emmanuel Nwokoro, to assume full control of the Party Secretariat”. The Motion which was seconded by Hon Chief Ugochukwu Udechukwu, Ward Chairman Of Ezinihitte Ward, was unanimously adopted.

In his acceptance speech, the now Acting Chairman of APC in Mbaitoli, Hon Chief Kelechi Obi, thanked the LGA Executive Committee for finding him worthy to be entrusted with the leadership of the party,  in Acting Capacity. He posited that if they did not find him worthy and capable in the first place, the Constitution of the party wouldn’t have been invoked, to enable him step in as the Chairman. He pledged to work with them as colleagues, reminding them that the positions they are occupying in the party, are in trust for the numerous registered Members of the party in the local government. Chief Kelechi Obi thereafter called for consolidated synergy from all the Executives in the LGA and Wards, as they prepare for the Council Election, coming up in September 2024.

He noted that leaders in the local government were calling meetings without recourse for the party, because of the absence of the LGA party Chairman for several months. In his words, Chief Obi said, *”With what we have done today, these leaders will no longer usurp our duties, functions and responsibilities as Party Executives. We don’t need to confront them. Some of these leaders exploited the lacuna created by the absence of the party chairman and usurped our functions. Now that this gap has been filled, we will no longer allow this anomaly to continue. I therefore thank you for Moving And Adopting this laudable Motion, urging me to step in and take control. I assure you today, we have taken control. We are fully in-charge We will no longer be taken for granted”.

Giving further insight on the new type of leadership to expect in Mbaitoli APC, Chief Obi said that the right things would be done, and that the LGA party leadership would not allow leaders to dictate to them how to run the party, arguing that the LGA would only carry out instructions as directed by the State Chairman of the party, Hon Sir MacDonald Kelechi Ebere PhD, who is the face and symbol of the party structure.

On the forthcoming Council Election, he averred that there would be no imposition of candidates. Chief Obi further said that based on instructions from the State Party Secretariat, there would be no zoning, and that Chairmanship and Councillorship positions have not been zoned, and until he receives a counter directive, it would remain so. He added, “However, we don’t know the number of people who are contesting for the elective positions. We don’t know how many people who have yet bought forms. But, in the next few days, the picture will be clearer and these Aspirants will be invited to make their aspiration formally known to us. There would be consultations, and we won’t allow any leader to impose candidates on us. We know ourselves and we are expected to respect ourselves”.

Some Members of the Executive Committee made contributions. The LGA Secretary, Hon Emmanuel Nwokoro submitted that it would be an abnormality for the party to relinquish its functions to any leader. He argued that no leader has the power to call meetings without recourse for the party. On his part, the Ward Chairman of  Ogwa Ward 1, Hon Ugobueze Azurundu, advised that the leaders should be made to know that there are people building the party. According to him, “these people are the party structure”.

For Mr Cyril Unanma, who is an LGA officer, “There was no clear instruction on issues of zoning. Let us make use of the directive we received from the state”.

The Ward  Chairman of Amaike Ward, Hon Nick Anusiem, advised that no decision should be taken outside the Deputy Governor of the State, who is the leader of the party in the LGA. He further emphasized that zoning has no legal binding, rather, it is an understanding with the party structure.

The LGA Treasurer, Hon Nwankwogu Mbadiwe, while submitting that leaders who are busy calling meetings and hijacking aspirants, with the sole aim of extorting money from the,  are wasting their time, he condemned the clandestine attitude of some of the leaders who have been importing non-APC members into the party, with the aim of plotting to impose such people as candidates in the forthcoming council election, both for the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions.

Other Members of the. LGA Executive Committee who attended the crucial meeting included the following :

1. Hon Kennedy Awusiem (LGA Assistant Organizing Secretary).
2. Hon Nwoketem C. (Ward Chairman, Orodo-A).
3. Mr Nlomije Christian (Ward Chairman, Afara/Eziama).
4. Mr Chamberlain Nwogwugwu (Ward Chairman).
5. Mr Osunwoke Kyrian  (Ward Chairman, Ogbaku).
6. Mr Josephat Akakuru (Ward Chairman, Ubomiri).
7. Hon Ndudi Nwokocha (Ward Chairman, Umuncha/Azara).
8. Hon Chief Ugochukwu  Udechukwu (Ward Chairman, Ezinihitte).
9. Mr Eugene Godspower (Ward Chairman, Orodo-B).
10. Hon Moses Ewurum (Ward Chairman, Ifakala).
11. Mrs Esther Emezige (Ex-Officio).
12. Mr Cyril Unanma ( LGA Assistant Publicity Secretary).
13. Mr Marcus Ememonu (LGA Ex-Officio).
14. Hon  B. N. Oduoze (LGOfficer).