Ebonyi APC crisis deepens as two parallel leaderships emerge

THE crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday took a new turn following the vote of no confidence passed on the Ben Nwaobasi-led executive by another faction led by the deputy chairman, Eze Nwachukwu Eze.

This came few days after Nwaobasi-led faction suspended the state Coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Chief Austine Igwe Edeze, and four others over alleged anti-party activities and rebellious behaviour.

Some members of the party, including the four suspended officers – Ngaji Nwodoh, Ephraim Eze, Eze Nwachukwu and Prof. Francis Ibiam — had passed vote of no confidence on the. Nwaobasi-led executive and elected the Deputy Chairman, Nwachukwu Eze as the new chairman.

They accused Nwaobasi of financial misconduct, incompetence, negligence of duty, dictatorship and wrongful substitutions of the party’s candidates during the general elections.

Also relieved of their duties were the Party’s Secretary, Victor Elem, his assistant, Anthony Eze, the Treasurer, Alloy Nwibo, and Financial Secretary, Ignatius Chima.

They set aside the suspensions of the four officers of the party and the State Coordinator of Buhari Campaign organisation who was also one of the governorship aspirants of the party, Chief Austine Igwe Edeze, who were suspended by the Nwobasi-led faction for alleged anti-party activities and rebellious behaviour.

In his acceptance speech, Eze Nwachukwu promised to restore the glory of the party in the state.

“It’s a new dawn. The party is on a new platform; it will take its right of place in Ebonyi State. We are going to take the party to a greater height,’’ he said.

The current crisis rocking the party in the state is a clash of interest by chieftains of the party who are seeking appointment in the incoming administration of Buhari.