Bianca Ojukwu’s appointment is anti-party activity — Anambra APC leaders

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State have condemned President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as a minister-designate, calling it an anti-party action.

They questioned the rationale behind the president’s decision to appoint her without consulting party members.

During an emergency meeting of party stakeholders in Awka on Thursday, the APC leaders described the appointment as a gross violation of party loyalty that undermines the morale of their members.

High Chief Bunty Onuigbo, the South East Zonal Secretary of APC and a member of the APC Elders Forum in Anambra, who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders, voiced concerns that the president’s actions do not foster loyalty within the party.

“This is nothing but an act of anti-party, and it is detrimental. By empowering members of other political parties at the expense of the APC in Anambra State, Mr President is not supporting party loyalty,” he stated.

Onuigbo further questioned the implications of the appointment, asking, “Does Mr President want a mass defection of APC members in Anambra to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)? Is he indirectly working for APGA in Anambra State?”

He expressed that the situation is both “unheard of and highly demoralising,” lamenting that the leadership in Abuja seems to be enhancing the fortunes of rival parties at the expense of the APC.

Onuigbo criticised APGA for monopolising benefits from programmes or empowerment schemes, which he claimed only served their members while taking credit for initiatives that should include all stakeholders.

“This is a group that despises the APC and wants nothing to do with us. Mr President is encouraging them by making such appointments,” he said.

Onuigbo announced that APC stakeholders have decided to formally present their grievances regarding these appointments to the state Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, for submission to the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

In a related development, a former youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chidi Chidebe, has emerged as the state party chairman. He was declared winner on Thursday after defeating his opponent, Amechi Onowu, with 1,080 to 960 votes.

Declaring Chidebe the winner, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai, who chaired the Anambra PDP Congress Committee, urged him to rebuild, restore and reconcile all aggrieved party members in the state.