Ebonyi State: Governor, APC consider sanction against Reps’ Candidate
Moses Nwite, Abakaliki.
The governor of Ebonyi state, South-east Nigeria, Engr. David Umahi, says he is considering sanctions against the House of Representatives’ candidate for Afikpo North and South federal constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr. Eni-Uduma Chima, and his collaborators over the crisis that recently rocked Ekoli Edda in Afikpo South local government area of the state.
The governor said he was also considering relieving of their positions all the Development Centre co-ordinators found culpable in the crisis.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Mr. Chooks Oko, the Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor.
It would be recalled that a political crisis involving Eni-Uduma Chima and the State APC chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha (both indigenes of Ekoli Edda) erupted in the area on Boxing Day, leading to the loss of three lives, including a policeman. Property, including buildings belonging to the party chairman were also destroyed.
Mr. Chooks Oko condemned the attack on the party chairman while speaking to the APC State Working Committee and others who paid him Christmas homage in his Uburu home, Ohaozara local government area of the state.
He expressed support for the indefinite suspension of Mr Chima and the other political actors in the attack.
He regretted that Chima had failed to be obedient to the party chairman, Emegha, who presided over the the process that gave him the ticket of the party, and cautioned the people against further breakdown of law and order in the area.
“The working committee of our great party, I have seen your letter.
“Yes, it is quite annoying. The attack on the party chairman, who is a complete gentleman, was quite uncalled for.
“I have seen your demand for the expulsion of Eni Uduma from the party; I have seen your request to remove all the coordinators that are loyal to him.
“I am considering all these demands. I am considering them very seriously.
“I condemn strongly the killing of Stanley’s brother, the burning of his house; and the perpetrators will never go unpunished,” Umahi said.
The leader of the APC State Working Committee, Mr. Edwin Okeh, while speaking, commended the governor for making the party proud through his superlative performance in governance.
He assured the governor of the party’s continued solidarity in his senatorial bid, describing it as already accomplished.
The governor also received members of Ebonyi Women in Politics led by Mrs Chika Onwe, the Ezza clan, and Izzi clan, among others.
He charged them to deliver their polling units for the APC gubernatorial candidate and other candidates in the 2023 elections.
