Ihuoma Chiedozie, Enugu
The Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has
threatened to expel Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, for
allegedly altering the list of delegates that will participate in the party’s
forthcoming national convention. Chairman of the APC in Enugu, Dr. Ben Nwoye, made the threat
at a press briefing, where he accused the minister of ‘sowing seeds of discord’
. The APC in Enugu has been rocked by crisis after a faction
of the State Working Committee attempted to oust the chairman, Nwoye.
threatened to expel Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, for
allegedly altering the list of delegates that will participate in the party’s
forthcoming national convention. Chairman of the APC in Enugu, Dr. Ben Nwoye, made the threat
at a press briefing, where he accused the minister of ‘sowing seeds of discord’
. The APC in Enugu has been rocked by crisis after a faction
of the State Working Committee attempted to oust the chairman, Nwoye.
Confusion over the delegates list from the recent local
government congress has deepened the crisis, following the alleged submission
of a ‘harmonised’ list to the national secretariat of the party, after the
party’s congress appeal committee had accepted the list submitted by the
congress’ organising committee.
government congress has deepened the crisis, following the alleged submission
of a ‘harmonised’ list to the national secretariat of the party, after the
party’s congress appeal committee had accepted the list submitted by the
congress’ organising committee.
Onyeama is believed to be behind the ‘harmonised’ delegates
list, in which the names of some prominent members of the APC in the state, who
were not present during the congress, reportedly replaced those of persons who
participated in the exercise, whose names were on the original list.
list, in which the names of some prominent members of the APC in the state, who
were not present during the congress, reportedly replaced those of persons who
participated in the exercise, whose names were on the original list.
However, the News Agency of Nigeria had quoted Onyeama as
saying that he was only working towards an amicable resolution of the crisis in
the party.
saying that he was only working towards an amicable resolution of the crisis in
the party.
Commenting on the list, the minister reportedly said, “I am
not involved. In fact, I don’t know some of these people (delegates), so when
there were agitations over the list, I got a number of stakeholders and told
them that we should harmonise the two lists so that everyone will be included.”
not involved. In fact, I don’t know some of these people (delegates), so when
there were agitations over the list, I got a number of stakeholders and told
them that we should harmonise the two lists so that everyone will be included.”
Reacting to the development while addressing journalists in
Enugu on Tuesday, Nwoye said the minister lacked the powers to ‘harmonise’ the
delegates’ list.
Enugu on Tuesday, Nwoye said the minister lacked the powers to ‘harmonise’ the
delegates’ list.
Noting that Onyeama had done ‘more harm than good’ to the
Enugu APC since he joined the party, following his appointment as minister,
Nwoye advised the foreign affairs minister to study the party’s constitution,
which he said did not give him (Onyeama) the powers he arrogated to himself.
Enugu APC since he joined the party, following his appointment as minister,
Nwoye advised the foreign affairs minister to study the party’s constitution,
which he said did not give him (Onyeama) the powers he arrogated to himself.
The Enugu APC chairman warned that the minister was on the
verge of being expelled from the party.
verge of being expelled from the party.
He added that the minister could face prosecution for the
alleged alteration.
alleged alteration.
Nwoye said, “Now that the minister has admitted that he
indeed doctored the party’s delegates list, we shall look at it.
indeed doctored the party’s delegates list, we shall look at it.
“The punishment for such offence is expulsion from the party
– if he is indeed the one that said that, he is liable for expulsion and
possible prosecution.
– if he is indeed the one that said that, he is liable for expulsion and
possible prosecution.
“It goes to the heart of our democracy that those who
participated in an election will have their names replaced.
participated in an election will have their names replaced.
“I am shocked that the minister did what he did in breach of
Article 21 of our party’s constitution, which prohibits alteration of delegates
list.
Article 21 of our party’s constitution, which prohibits alteration of delegates
list.
Source: PUNCH
