An All Progressives Congress, APC, stalwart and former member of the House of Representatives, Nze Chikwem Esiaga, has decried the factional leadership crisis ravaging the Abia State chapter of the party.
Esiaga regretted that the balkanization of the party in Abia has jeopardized many chances of the party to win an election and form a government in the state.
He urged the national leadership of the APC to either constitute a caretaker committee or conduct fresh congress at various levels of the party in the state, to forestall further balkanization of the party in Abia.
The ex-federal lawmaker made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Umuahia, the state capital.
“Without mincing words and without minding whose ox is gored, anybody that says that there are no factions in Abia state chapter of APC is economical with the truth.
“When we had state congress in 2021, two chairmen emerged, namely Hon Iheanacho Obioma and Mr Kingsley Ononogbu. the then national caretaker committee led by Mai Mala Buni recognized Mr Ononogbu instead of Hon Obioma who was democratically elected at Umuahia Sports Stadium triggered the genesis of the crisis and the emergence of two factions.
“Out of anger and much later on, Obioma left for labour party(LP) with Dr Alex Otti. His then deputy, Hon Goldie Opusunju Wabara took over as the factional chairman till date.
“Yours sincerely was in the delegation that met with Senator Abdullahi Adamu in 2022 and pleaded with him to right the wrong done by Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC but to no avail. The results of our abysmal performance in 2023 elections are the fallouts of factional politics in Abia APC.
“Another faction is springing up now to further destroy the chapter if care is not taken. Caretaker committee or fresh congresses at the various levels of the party is the solution. Let us not pretend that all is well when all is not well,” he said.