2015: Defections Dim APGA’s Hope

Odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that former Governor Peter Obi’s resignation as APGA BOT has crashed the party in Anambra in particular and the nation at large coupled with recent defection to PDP of APGA lawmakers led by Chairman House Committee on Environment , Chief Mrs Uche Ekwunife.
Read Felix Nwaneri story in the Nigerian New Telegraph newspaper :
The recent defection of some members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may dim the party’s hope of improving on its fortune in the forthcoming 2015 elections. In a move that shocked most political analysts and even APGA’s leadership, five of the party’s lawmakers dumped it for the PDP in one fell swoop.

They include former governorship aspirant and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Uche Ekwunife and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, Chris Emeka Azubogu. Others are the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Afam Ogene; member representing Onitsha North/Onitsha South federal constituency, Cyril Egwuatu and the Chairman, House Committee on Culture, Tourism, Pilgrimages and Religious Matters, Chief John Olibie. The federal legislators have already written to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, seeking waiver to return to the party and apparently contest the 2015 elections.
In their separate letters addressed to the PDP national chairman through the state chairman of the party, Prince Ken Emeakayi, and copied to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, they attributed their actions to the lingering crisis in APGA, particularly the endless litigations between the two APGA factions of Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Maxi Okwu. The quest for who controls APGA at the national level between Umeh and Okwu has not only taken a toll on the fortune of the party, but depleted its support base, particularly in Anambra – the only state under its control.
Ekwunife, who contested the party’s governorship primaries last year against the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, in her letter, stated: “This is to inform you of my decision to return to my original party, the PDP, and also to notify you of my resignation as a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). “My decision is as a result of the internal crisis and endless litigations between the two APGA factions of Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Maxi Okwu.
“I have therefore returned to PDP to continue to give unwavering and interrupted support to Goodluck Jonathan and his monumental transformation agenda and nation building. “In the present circumstance, I therefore appeal to the national and state executives of the party to grant me the waiver required to further my political aspirations under the umbrella of the PDP. Kindly inform all necessary organs of the party accordingly.”
The other four defectors equally cited the leadership tussle as their reason for dumping APGA, although some analysts are of the view that the defection may have been prompted by plans to deny the lawmakers tickets to contest the next elections.
Ekwunife, for instance, is said to have jumped ship because it is certain that Governor Obiano, who she battled in court for APGA’s ticket in last year’s governorship election is set to deny her the return ticket to contest the National Assembly poll. She is said to be eyeing Anambra Central senatorial seat, a position, which Umeh has publicly declared for.
While the lawmakers’ defection has sent jitters down the spine of APGA’s national leadership, the last straw that is likely to break the party’s back is the plot by the Presidency to lure the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi to the PDP. Those behind the plot are said to be cashing in on the strained relationship between Obi and his political godson, Obiano. It was earlier speculated that Obi would dump APGA alongside the legislators, but it never came to pass. However, many say that it is just a matter of time before Obi finally dumps APGA.
The former governor’s alleged move to the PDP has been on for long following his closeness to President Jonathan. He had endorsed the President’s candidature ahead of the last general election despite belonging to the opposition.
Though his position was then understandable as his party had no candidatfor the presidential poll, some analysts are of the view that with APGA’s limited sphere of influence and Obi having served out two tenures as governor, the PDP which controls the centre is the most likely party he would want to use in furthering his political career.
Those in this political school of thought consider this as the underlying factor behind Obi’s support for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket during the campaigns for the 2011 elections and his continued support for the administration even against the view that the PDP has not helped in advancing the cause of a better Anambra State, given the antecedents of some of its chieftains in the state.
APGA, they further opined would have been spared of the near dismal performance it recorded in Anambra in the last general election despite being the ruling party in the state if Obi had worked hard for it as he did for President Jonathan.
While it was possible for the former governor to mobilise about 99 per cent of votes in the state for Jonathan and the PDP in the presidential poll, APGA was unable to garner up to 50 per cent for itself in other elections, losing the three senatorial seats in the state to the PDP and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The support for the President and his party was however not a failed venture for Obi and APGA, as it paid off in the November 2013 governorship election, which Obiano won. Many still insist that APGA had an unwritten understanding with the PDP for the prosecution of the poll, and that it was the pact that informed the uninspiring support by PDP’s national leadership to the party’s candidate in that election Tony Nwoye.
Part of the deal, it was further alleged, was to cede some senatorial and House of Representatives’ seats to APGA in the 2015 elections in order to get the party’s support for the second term bid of President Jonathan. But Senate President, David Mark, recently dismissed any deal between PDP and APGA while addressing PDP stakeholders in Anambra State at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area. He said: “There is no such deal with any opposition party anywhere. Nobody should deceive you into believing that PDP has an agreement with any opposition party. PDP has a manifesto and only elected PDP candidates can implement it.”
Obi on his part equally dismissed the defection theory, saying he has no reasons to dump APGA. His media assistant, Val Obienyem, who spoke on the issue, said: “The former governor has made it clear that he will not leave APGA for any party. His body language does not suggest so. “Late President Yar’Adua did his best to get him out of APGA but did not succeed. The former governor has character.
He is not planning to do such a thing.” Obienyem also dismissed the rumoured friction between his principal and his successor. “It is not true that he (Obi) has any quarrel with the governor of Anambra State, Chief Obiano. There is no need for that. Obi handed over power to Obiano for good. Since he handed over power to Obiano, he has not travelled to Anambra State. He has nothing to quarrel with Obiano for because, he has no pending issue or issues,” he said.
The former governor, who explained the reason why he has decided to shun Awka since he left office, told journalists at the weekend that he made it clear the day he handed over to Obiano that there was no agreement between them, and that he deliberately decided not to visit Awka to avoid distracting the new governor.
“I speak with him and we meet when it is necessary. I will support him as he works for the interest of the state, and I urge Anambra people to support and pray for him,” Obi said. While APGA faithful continue to ruminate on the party’s fate ahead of the 2015 elections against the backdrop of the defection, the Okwu-led faction of the party has set up a seven-man reconciliation committee to woo back the defected lawmakers.
Okwu said while he awaits the recovery of the party via the Supreme Court, he has set up a seven-member special committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Chris Uche, to quickly move in and resolve the crisis. In a statement, Okwu said the quest to recreate, restructure and re-position the party was a collective responsibility, adding that the party was deeply concerned with the manner stalwarts were leaving APGA in droves due to perceived hijack of the party by Umeh.
His words: “The angst in place like in Anambra State is palpable. The tragedy in all this is that those that are temporally occupying high public offices on our mandate don’t give a hoot. No party can survive this way. The ubiquitous Peoples Democratic Party bends over backwards to seek and pacify aggrieved members who leave the party.
APGA can only survive and blossom if all party members come together and rescue it from the hands of political hirelings.” While many cannot wait for the resolution of the crisis and save APGA from possible extinction, there are indications that the irreconcilable differences between Umeh and Okwu may hinder the peace move, as the Umeh-led faction of the party has threatened the lawmakers with recall.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party (Umeh-led executive), Mr. Okwukwe Ibiam, who disclosed the recall plan, described the defectors as perennial election ticket hunters, who conveniently declare their allegiance where they may be favoured with tickets. Noting that APGA cannot be built with such unstable and seasonal ticket hunters, he assured that “APGA will effectively campaign to recover the seats of the prodigal ticket hunters.
The people’s conscience and trust cannot be mortgaged for individual convenience.” How the party achieves the recall of the defectors however remains unclear, as it is yet to unseat the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, who, it had earlier threatened with such action when he dumped its platform for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
With politics being strife of interest, masquerading as contest of principles, the days ahead will determine whether those still proclaiming APGA will continue to hang on or dump the platform under which they rode to political prominence now that their mentor and former National Leader – Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu has quit the stage.