APC Congress: There was no parallel congress in Enugu- Nwoye

…As appeal panel begins sitting
Contrary to allegation by some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that they were sidelined in the just concluded Ward Congress of the party in Enugu State, the APC in the state has dismissed the allegation, insisting that the congresses were the most peaceful in the country.

This is even as the Appeal Panel for the congress led by Charles Babagbale has commenced sitting to look into petitions and complaints by aggrieved members of the party.

Addressing journalists at the APC Party secretariat in Enugu, Babagbale said the panel commenced sitting Monday and so far has received only one petition.

He called on aggrieved members on the party to formally come forward with their complaints to enable them look into such complaints, adding that the panel will round up on Wednesday this week.

According to him, reports reaching the panel indicate that congresses actually took place across the state contrary to allegations by some aggrieved members that the exercise did not take place.

Babagbale, further disclosed that for now, the three-man panel was not in a position to ascertain whether there was parallel congress or not as alleged by some aggrieved members.

Also speaking during the Media Briefing, the APC Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye posited that the congresses were very successful in the 260 wards across the seventeen local government areas of the state, adding that for the first time in the history of congress in Enugu State, people enmasse from the grassroots came to vote for candidates of their choice without inducement.

He, however, regretted that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyema was allegedly being economical with the truth on the congress, insisting that he failed to follow laid rules and regulation guiding the conduct of the congress.

Nwoye said it was unfortunate the minister rather than coming to the state party secretariat to get necessary information from the congress committee that came from National Headquarters of the party in Abuja, choose to hold his own meeting in a hotel.

He accused him of instigating crisis as well as to create impression that there was parallel congress whereas there were none, stressing that “you don’t create parallel structure through wishful thinking”.

The APC Chairman, however, expressed happiness that Chieftains of party in the state such as Ex-Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, Former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Immediate past governor of the state Sullivan Chime, National Vice Chairman of the party in the South East, Chief Emma Enekwu among others have adjured the congress as peaceful and hitch free.