The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the appointment of Donatus Nwankpa as the national welfare secretary of the party.
The APC National Working Committee had on Wednesday announced Nwankpa as a replacement for the late former national welfare secretary, Friday Nwosu, who was from the state.
In a statement by the chairman, Kingsley Ononogbu and the secretary, Chidi Avaja, the Abia APC described the appointment as imposition and called on the committee to reverse itself and respect the APC’s constitution.
The Abia APC leadership also pointed out that the APC constitution is very clear on who has the mandate to nominate a replacement in case of vacancy, saying the responsibility falls squarely in the state executive committee.
The statement explained that following the death of Nwosu in March this year, the state chapter had in line with the party constitution nominated its organising secretary, Obinna Atuonwu as a replacement for the deceased.
They argued that “Atuonwu’s name had been forwarded to both the zonal and national organs of our great party for ratification”, insisting that the appointment of Nwankpa was without recourse to the Abia APC.
“We are deeply worried that some stranger-elements are trying to destabilise the chapter after their treachery and betrayals during the last election,” the statement added.
It noted that it was this same group that had initially wanted to foist a suspended member of the APC as replacement and “they were resisted. And when they realised their folly, they now changed to their present candidate.
“It’s not in the interest of the APC that some of the chieftains will just gang up and share its office using the president’s name. But we know that he as a consummate politician who respects the constitution and due process.
“The president’s name should not be vainly used. We, therefore, call on the committee to refuse to be used in this unconstitutional and illegal voyage which is aimed at the usurpation of the powers and mandate of the chapter.”
Affirming their loyalty to the president, the national chairman and the committee, the chapter urged the national secretariat of the APC to reverse “this ugly division which will not stand the test of moral, political and judicial scrutiny.”
The chapter reinstated its belief that common sense and the constitution should prevail, noting that Atuonwu remains the duly nominated national welfare secretary from the state.