According to Punch Newspaper, The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated that there is no parallel executive within its ranks in Enugu State, firmly supporting Chief Ugochukwu Agballah as the legitimate state chairman. This declaration was made by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, following recent legal proceedings and internal party disputes that have stirred political tensions within the state. Ganduje’s stance comes amidst a backdrop of factional disagreements and allegations of interference from rival political entities.
by fabulous reports
On August 9, 2024, Justice C.V.C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court issued a restraining order against Agballah, barring him from presenting himself as the state chairman of the APC. The injunction also affected several other party officials, including Augustine Alumonah, Jude Aniogbo, Moses Eze, Sunday Ugwoke, Ugwu Kanayo, Eze Johnson, Queen Charles, Onyekachi Ezeagu, and Idoko Chikadibia, prohibiting them from assuming leadership roles within the state chapter of the party. This legal action was initiated by Nwafor Onyeachonam, who claims to be the acting state chairman, seeking to prevent Agballah and his associates from asserting control over the party’s affairs in Enugu State.
In response to these developments, Ganduje, through a statement delivered by the Deputy National Chairman for the South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, dismissed the court’s injunction and reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Agballah-led State Executive Committee. Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting at the APC state secretariat, Ganduje emphasized that any attempts to undermine Agballah’s leadership were baseless and lacked recognition from the party’s national leadership. He termed the purported suspension of the state executive committee as a nullity, indicating that the national body did not acknowledge any legitimacy to the suspension claims.
Ganduje’s remarks also pointed towards external interference as a catalyst for the internal discord. He accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of instigating crises within the APC to weaken its position in Enugu State, thus hampering its ability to present a formidable opposition. This accusation aligns with a broader narrative of political maneuvering, where ruling parties are often alleged to exploit internal conflicts within rival parties to consolidate their own influence.
The APC national chairman reassured party members of his commitment to maintaining unity and stability within the state chapter. He stated that until his arrival in Enugu, he was unaware of any significant issues within the party, downplaying the extent of the factionalism reported. Ganduje reaffirmed that the party’s national secretariat continues to recognize Agballah as the legitimate state chairman, urging party members to disregard claims of a parallel executive.
He said: “I can assure you that the national secretariat does not even know there is any problem in Enugu APC. It was when I landed in Enugu this morning that I started hearing about one group. But the national chairman recognises Agballah as the state Chairman of APC.
