By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

Following its dismal performance at the just concluded 2023 general elections the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Abia state chapter may be facing imminent implosion News Express reports.

For the past two weeks, tongues are wagging over anti party activities and woeful outings at the March 18 polls in particular and the general elections. The losses have generated bitter utterances accusations of failure on the part of the excos.

Aggrieved members as well as stakeholders have levelled corruption allegations among other things, against the leadership of the party in the state. Consequently, the State Working Committee (SWC) and the aggrieved members have been trading blames hitting up the anger within the party.

APGA came a distant third in the gubernatorial election. Its governorship candidate, Prof Gregory Ibe, in a display of the spirit of good sportsmanship had conceded defeat and congratulated the winner, Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) a day, ahead of his official declaration by INEC. Apart from Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe the party could not win a seat or governorship position.

In its post elections audit the members and stakeholders are lamenting the losses and bemoaned over what they called anti-party activities of their leaders, among whom is Obinna Ichite, a serving member of the Abia House of Assembly, who was the running mate to Prof Gregory Ibe for governorship poll.

This comes amid national leadership crisis rocking the party.

News Express recalls that only last Thursday, the Supreme Court had ruled on the APGA leadership tussle between Vitor Oye and Edozie Njoku, declaring the later as the national chairman. But one of the parties in the dispute had reportedly described the report as “fake news”.

Meanwhile, Ichite on Sunday announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the chairman of APGA, Enyimba Ward 3 in Aba South Local Government, dated March 24, 2023. The two-paragraph letter sighted by our reporter, and which failed to give any reasons for his decision, indicated his resignation takes “effect from the date of the receipt of this letter”. Party members have said it was "good radiance to bad rubbish". Others said Ichite is 'clueless and a failed politician'. They further accused him of corruption.

News Express exclusively obtained claims stressing allegation of mismanaging elections funds.

In some of the claims, some polling agents of the party accused him of diverting funds for personal use.

Some members of the party have also faulted his process of resignation, saying he should have addressed the party in a forum and announce his resignation following due process.

“Have you seen why we failed”, asked a concerned member. Said another, “Are you not aware even at his areas APGA didn’t get one vote? Do you know what it means? It shows APGA didn’t have agents, ward executives etc, because if they do, APGA should have voted their party if not for any other thing. Party contest election not really individual in essence”. However, expressing worries, some concerned members have appealed for urgent intervention of the state leadership of the party to stop the crisis from brewing.

But attempts to speak with the State chairman, Pastor Augustine Ehimere were fruitless. He declined to answer several calls to his telephone by this reporter.

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