As the crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) deepens, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, is already making moves to ensure his anointed candidate emerges victorious in the governorship election scheduled to hold on November 6.
A credible source in APGA said that while there was hope that the crisis will be resolved before the election which is less than five months away, Governor Obiano is not leaving anything to chance as he was already in talks with the APC over a possible alliance.
It was gathered that the governor’s fear is that the APC as the ruling party at the centre might capitalise on the crisis in APGA and deploy federal might to win the governorship election.
The Anambra State chapter of APGA was thrown into confusion, last Tuesday, following the alleged sack of the national chairman, Chief Victor Oye, and suspension of six other executives of the party.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ikechukwu Chinyere, who briefed journalists after the party’s 114th NEC meeting in Abuja, announced the name of Chief Jude Okeke as replacement for the national chairman, as he listed other suspended members to include Chinedu Obidigwe, Hamman Ghide, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, Adamu Musa, Chief Okogbuo and Ifeanyi Mbaeri.
He said they were suspended indefinitely from the party for anti-party activities, gross misconduct and conduct capable of bringing the party’s image to disrepute, among others.
However, Oye while reacting to the development said his purported sack was laughable and inconsequential.
While directing APGA members and the public to disregard the announcement, Oye said that he remained the national chairman of the party.
Speaking, on Thursday, a source said the latest crisis in APGA has really unsettled Governor Obiano as he had done everything possible to keep the party united ahead of the governorship election.
He also said aside the crisis at the national level, loyalists of Biafra warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, who are still in APGA have vowed to teach the governor a bitter lesson at the polls by voting against his anointed candidate during the major election.
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These loyalists had accused Governor Obiano of abandoning the ideals of Ojukwu, who was one of the founders of APGA and also the manner she treated Bianca, Ojukwu’s widow, who sought to represent Anambra South Senatorial District in the 2019 general elections.
According to the source, “The governor is really worried about the latest development. As you know, Anambra is the headquarters of APGA in Nigeria as that is the only state the party controls in the federation.
“So, anything that happens to APGA directly affects Anambra, especially with few weeks to the governorship election.
“He has his plan B already. Despite the fact that he belongs to an opposition party, Obiano remains one of the favourites of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The APC leadership has also made overtures to him but he has remained resolute that he will not leave his party, APGA.
“I understand that they are already in talks over a possible alliance ahead of the election and I believe the outcome will be positive at the end of the day”.