The Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Eke Ward, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, has petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, over what they described as the illegal and unilateral dissolution of their ward executive by the embattled state chairman, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballa.
The petitioners urged the party’s national leadership to prevent what they termed a blatant violation of the APC Constitution.
The petition was signed by key ward officials, including Chairman Chibuzo Onyeama, Vice Chairman Ikechukwu Okafor, Secretary Ezi Ebere, Youth Leader Chidi Eneh, Publicity Secretary Onyeka Nnedu, Legal Adviser Ifeanyi Okeh, Deputy Women Leader Joy Ogbonna, and 20 other executive members.
“We, the undersigned members of the Executive of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Eke Ward in Udi LGA of Enugu State, wish to bring to your attention the alarming attempt by the state chairman, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballa, to destabilise and undermine the strong structure and presence of the APC in Eke Ward.”
The petition, also addressed to Chief Emma Eneukwu, APC Deputy Chairman (South), and the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, alleged that Agballa unilaterally announced the dissolution of their legitimately constituted executive.
“On Tuesday, 25th February 2025, some members of the APC, including Mr. Stanley Nebo, Dr. Anthony Nebo, and Mr. Jude Offu, came to our ward, Eke, at the behest of Agballa, to inaugurate Mr. Remigius Aniagba, a member of the PDP/Labour Party who has yet to join the APC, as the new Chairman of APC Eke Ward, claiming that Agballa has dissolved our legitimate Exco.”
They maintained that the APC Constitution does not empower a state chairman to unilaterally dissolve an existing ward executive, replace it with a new one, or appoint an outsider as chairman.
They also accused Agballa of engaging in anti-party activities.
The petitioners called on the National Chairman to urgently address the issue, noting that Agballa had been involved in similar disruptions in other wards across the state.
According to them, “During the gubernatorial and state assembly elections in 2023, APC won in only five wards in Enugu State: Eke Ward in Udi LGA, Ngwo Uno Ward in Udi LGA, Umuna Ward in Igbo-Etiti LGA, and Nimbo 1 and Nimbo 2 Wards in Uzo Uwani LGA.”
“We achieved this success through unity, determination, and commitment to the ideals of the APC, even in the face of the Obidient movement and the PDP’s influence in Enugu State. It should be noted that Barr. Agballa did not secure a win in his polling unit, much less his ward, Udi Agbudu, in any of the 2023 elections.”
“Rather than helping us strengthen our presence and focusing on building functional ward executives in the 260 wards of Enugu State, where APC lacks active leadership in over 15, Agballa seems determined to destabilise and dismantle our stronghold in Eke Ward, seemingly to drag us down to the level of his ward, Udi Agbudu, where the APC is unsuccessful. He once said to our chairman, Chibuzo Onyeama, ‘You people are boasting because you win elections; I will dissolve your Exco and form a new one.’”
Expressing disappointment, the petitioners also called out Dr. Anthony Nebo, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, for participating in what they termed an illegal exercise.
“What is particularly disheartening is that a respected elder in our party, Dr. Anthony Nebo, Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, allowed himself to be employed in this blatant illegality. It is baffling that Dr. Nebo, given his status and age, would condescend to Eke to facilitate the dissolution of a functional and industrious executive and to inaugurate a non-member of the APC, who has already been rejected by the PDP and Labour Party, as chairman. We strongly feel such actions are beneath him.”
“We cannot work under an imposed non-member as our chairman unless he joins our party and subsequently emerges through the proper congress.”
Reaffirming their loyalty to the party’s leadership in Enugu State, the petitioners urged swift intervention to prevent Agballa from further undermining the APC’s presence in the state.
“We wish to take this opportunity to express and reaffirm our unwavering support and loyalty to Chief Uche Nnaji Nwakibie, the leader of the party in Enugu State, and Chief Emma Eneukwu, OFR, the Deputy National Chairman of APC (South). We humbly implore them to intervene before Barr. Ugochukwu Agballa completely undermines our cherished party, the APC, in Enugu State,” they concluded.
