By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Reconciliation and Peace Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by former National Chairman of the party, Senator Victor Umeh, has announced the return of four founding members of the party that left the party’s fold.

The returnee big wigs include widow of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Amb Bianca Ojukwu, and three founding members of the party and Board of Trustees (BOT) members, Bar Mike Adams Ogomentu, first National Publicity Secretary, and Chief (Alhaji) Tayo Sowunmi, first Deputy Chairman of APGA and later National Vice Chairman South West.

Umeh, who announced the return in Awka, said the Committee had meetings with Ambassador Ojukwu during a visit to her residence in Enugu.

According to him, she accepted to return to the party and work for its victory in the November governorship poll.

Umeh said: “We visited her and after fruitful discussions she accepted to join us back to the party and she is now championing the party’s campaign for the November election.”

The former national chairman further confirmed that two aspirants of the party Mr Nonso Smart and Mr Udua Uzoka have also returned to the party to support the candidate Soludo in the coming election, saying the committee will meet with Umeoji.

“Apart from Amb Bianca Ojukwu, Nonso Smart and Mr Udua Uzoka have returned to the party and we also invited Chukwuma Umeoji who was elected Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area under APGA and also a member of the Federal House of Representatives under the party.

“We have strong hopes that he will join us because we have reached out to him for talks which he confirmed.

“The political tussle between Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Honourable Michael Chukwuma Umeorji over who flies the party’s ticket in November 6th, 2021 governorship election in the state will soon come to an end,” he added

Bianca Ojukwu had left the party following the outcome of the National Assembly primary election of the party which was not in her favor.

The three founding members of the party under the leadership of the then National chairman Chief Chekwas Okorie who had earlier gone to court to challenge the 2019 National Convention of the party also announced the withdrawal of their suit which is pending.

They promised to work for the victory of the party in the coming election.

The trio said: “We are withdrawing from the suit in the interest of peace in the party because there is no point overhearing the party and again our party is going for election in Anambra state and we urge other aggrieved members to forget about those litigations and come back to the party.”

“We have a good and acceptable candidate in the person of Prof Charles Soludo and if we continue this way our party stands the chance of losing the election.”

The committee which was set up by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State was charged with the responsibility of reconciling all factions and aggrieved members of the party ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state.

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