Why We Organised Parallel LG Congress in Enugu, by Foreign Affairs Minister

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, has said his faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State organised parallel congresses in the 17 local government areas of the state when his efforts to unite all the contending groups proved abortive.

The minister and the Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, had emerged as national delegates from Udi Local Government Area in their parallel congresses.

The camp of the VON DG equally elected Mr. Charles Chime and Mrs. Maureen Anosike as national delegates, while the minister's camp also elected the SSA to the President on Judicial Reforms, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, and Mr. Flavour Eze as national delegates.

The minister alleged that efforts he made to harmonise the previous ward congress in the state in order to have a single democratic process and free and fair election proved abortive as the national congress committee led by Dr. Ikechukwu Odikpo and state Chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye, worked against his efforts.

According to him, "The chairman of the national congress committee claims that the National Working Committee (NWC) said he should only meet with the state chairman. The chairman of the state party himself is interested in competing...  "And he completely excluded everybody else. In fact, he excluded the majority. So what happened is exactly what you should expect to happen. We have gone on with parallel congress."

Meanwhile, the local government congress committee for the state has dismissed reported claims of a parallel congress in the state at the weekend.

Chairman of the six-man committee, Dr. Ikechukwu Odigbo, said his committee conducted a peaceful congress across the 17 local government areas of the state.

 While dismissing claims of a parallel congress by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Onyeama, he said the committee adhered strictly to the guidelines for the congress as laid down by the NWC of the party. 

Odigbo said: "I was sent by the NWC of the APC to help organise the congress in Enugu State. I'm leading a six-man delegation. 

"I will say that from what happened today (Saturday), Enugu is a peaceful state unlike what happened in other states where there were skirmishes. There is also high enthusiasm of members. The competition is high and we look forward to a good party base for APC in the state.” 

The committee boss faulted the reported conduct of a parallel congress by the Foreign Affairs minister, adding that "I did advise him when I met him that there is rule of engagement for any competition and we have to abide by it.  "So, he didn't like it, but I told him I cannot do otherwise, I was sent here to conduct the congress and I was given a guideline. Any society that is not ruled by guidelines will lead to chaos. 

"As a minister, what I expect him to do was to use his voice that can be heard up there. He should go there and discuss with the authorities if he is not happy about the guidelines. Subsequently, we can improve. Remember APC is a new party, and I always say that the party is work in progress, we will keep getting better."