A southeast Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Otuwe Kalu Oji, has sued for a truce among warring factions in the Abia state chapter of the party.
Mr Oji, the Abia APC House of Assembly candidate for the Ohafia North constituency seat during the March 18th 2023 election in the state made the call in an interview with DAILY POST on Friday in Umuahia, the Abia state capital.
He identified open sabotage and treacherous attitudes allegedly displayed by most critical party leaders and stakeholders from Abia as the major cause of the party’s abysmal performances in the recently- conducted governorship and house of assembly polls by the independent national electoral commission.
He said the APC leadership must wade in to end the clashes of interests which have continued to pose a clog in the wheel of progress of the state APC to win an election and form a government in Abia State.
Oji reiterated that all warring Party leaders and members must close ranks and put Abia and APC interests above personal, political aggrandisements to enable the progressive party to take over the state government house in Umuahia in future elections.
He admonished all aggrieved APC members to bury their individual differences and work together towards repositioning the main opposition party in the state, to play active roles by engaging and putting the ruling party in Abia on its toes to do what is expected of the people.
He advised, “The party national leadership must come to our aid and prevail on aggrieved members to sheathe their swords to ensure the party electoral prospects and success in future elections or electoral competitions. And we must put our house in order.
“You don’t expect victory in an election when your house is scattered and divided. There are members who will work sincerely and genuinely for APC’s success, and there are those who will sabotage the party in its effort to achieve electoral prospects.
“So, party leadership at the national level should summon all factions in the Abia chapter of the All Progressives Congress and ensure all interests and issues still fueling the crisis being experienced in the state since 2015 are harmonized and resolved, so as to reposition APC to provide constructive opposition to many draconian and anti-people policies and programmes of the ruling party government in Abia”.
Mr Oji, who is currently challenging the INEC’s declaration of Abia Assembly candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mandela Obasi, as the winner of the concluded March 18th 2023 polls at the state election petition tribunal, expressed confidence that the judicial panel will dispense justice and fairness in the lawsuit instituted before it.
“I must restate that PDP flagbearer, Mr Mandela Obasi lacked the requisite qualifications to speak on behalf of the people at the hallowed chamber of Abia State House of Assembly. He never won the election. Days have gone when one gets into political power through the backdrop. Every political player must subject his or herself to a transparent election process.
“So, I am hopeful that justice will prevail for the whole world to see. People of Ohafia north constituency anticipate a victory for APC in soon-to-be delivered judgment by election petition tribunal members pertaining to my lawsuit challenging the outcome of the state elections, which took place on 18th of March 2023 by the INEC.
