‘APGA Can’t Afford To Be In Crisis Now’

Former national chairman,
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has called on members of the party to allow peace to reign and avoid plunging the party into another leadership crisis.
Umeh made the call in Awka in an interview with newsmen.
He urged party members to abide by the peace brokered on October 11, by the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party following disagreement in the National Working Committee (NWC).
He warned that APGA could not afford to be in leadership crisis especially at this time when preparations are being made for the gubernatorial election in Anambra.
Umeh affirmed that Dr Victor Oye remained the national chairman of the party and urged detractors to allow him to carry out the duties of his office in the interest of all.
He said: “we have resolved the seeming disagreement in the national working committee of APGA.
“We met on October 11 with all the members of the NWC at a meeting convened by the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano.
“We listened to them and resolved the issues, but I understand there are interviews flying around that the issues have not been resolved,
“APGA cannot afford to be in crisis now that we are going into a crucial governorship election in Anambra in 2017.
“People are just blowing the happenings in APGA out of proportion; our national chairman remains Dr Victor Oye.
“It however depends on how he handles the affairs of the party and members.”
Umeh, who chaired the party for eight years, observed that crisis was normal in any political family as there were bound to be conflicts of interests.
“Let me also say that APGA is a human organisation; it is prone to crisis because of conflict of interests.
“During my time as the national chairman, there were several attempts to remove me
“In the APC, the governorship primary in Ondo state is tearing the party apart, so crisis situation is not strange in party politics,” he said.
However, the acting national chairman of APGA, Mr Ozo Okafor reiterated that Oye remained suspended.
He said that the intervention of the BoT in the crisis in the party on Oct 11, did not address the grouse of members.
Okafor, who declared that he remained the acting chairman, said that Oye had not demonstrated enough readiness for reconciliation and desire to mend his ways.
“Oye remains suspended, there is nothing that has changed it and he should accept it in good faith.
“The chairman who have labelled us dissidents and saboteurs have not demonstrated that he is ready to change.
“I am the acting chairman of APGA; our meeting in Awka did not change anything; it requires the decision of National Executive Council of the party to vitiate that verdict,” he added.
It woould be recalled that on October 6, some members of the NWC of APGA announced the suspension of Oye and some other national officers of the party over alleged high handedness and breach of party constitution.