APC Crisis: Onyeama, Nnamani, Chime, Others Absent From Tinubu’s Rally In Enugu, Says They Were Not Informed

Some leaders of the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were absent on Wednesday from the party’s presidential campaign rally in the state.

According to them, they were not fully carried along as regards preparation for the rally which was held at the the Michael Okpara Square.

Naija News reports that part of those who were absent include the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Enugu Governor, Barr. Sullivan Chime, former Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani.

Others were Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, the immediate past chairman of the Party in the State, Barr. Ben Nwoye and a presidential aide, Barr. Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku.

It was gathered that their absence from the rally was against the back drop of the crisis rocking the APC in the state.

This platforms learnt that majority of these leaders went to welcome the APC flag bearer, Bola Tinubu, when he arrived the state.

They were reported to have earlier in the day received Tinubu at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, but while Tinubu headed to the Michael Okpara Square venue of the rally, the party leaders diverted to Chime’s Enugu residence to address pressmen.

At the briefing, they said their absent from the rally was to send a message to the national leadership of the APC that all is not well with the Enugu State chapter of the party and something urgently must be done about the crisis rocking the party.

The Enugu APC leaders who promised to work for Tinubu’s victory come what may blamed the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma for allegedly hijacking the APC structure in Enugu State, and disorganising the party.

Naija News understands that Chime told pressmen at the briefing that “We received our Presidential candidate at the Airport.

“However, we are not at Okpara Square because of the internal issues we have in Enugu within the party. It has been there and this is because sometime in October, 2021, a non-member was foisted on us after the botched State Party Congress as a so-called chairman.

“The party leaders went to Abuja, complained but nobody took them seriously, the issues continued. So, we have to distance ourselves from the local chapter of the party.

“After today, we expect that the party will do the right thing.”

Speaking about working for Tinubu, Chime said, “We will ensure that he gets more than the required 25 percent. Enugu must be counted.

“Today’s event is just a rally, the major thing is election and we are working hard to see to the victory of the party.”

Also Nnamani declared that, “Tinubu is the candidate of the party and all loyal party members will support and work for his victory.

“We are not aware of the preparations for this rally. That is why we did not want to go and create a scene there.

“The rally was pretty much organized from outside Enugu.”