Aspirants for the May 17 All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Abia State Congress have rejected the zoning of positions arrangement describing the formula as not only strange, but also skewed, self-centered and might not augur well for the party.

The leadership of party had released a time table for Ward, LGA and State Congresses showing that executive positions have been zoned. Out- going State chairman, Rev Augustine Ehiemere reportedly confirmed the time table after a meeting of the state working committee in Umuahia, capital of Abia state.

According to the time table, the ward congress holds on May 17, local government congress holds May 20, while the State and Zonal congresses are scheduled for May 23.

But expressing dismay, aggrieved aspirants condemned the formula pointing out that it is unpopular and will not be embraced my majority of members of the party.

They alleged that a ‘cabal’ which had hijacked the party in the state was plotting another ‘dangerous’ game plan to keep APGA ‘in their pocket’, adding that the new zoning arrangement is “an ambush, robbery” that does not give space for fair and equal contest and vowed to continue their protest against the zoning formula until it is addressed.

Also, the aspirants and stakeholders in the party bemoaned the zoning arrangement saying if it is not halted the Abia state chapter of APGA may have begun a move to self-destruction.

Arising from their Stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, a group under the aegis of APGA Aspirants, Candidates and Stakeholders Forum kicked against the zoning. In their communique sighted by News Express, the aspirants said “the purported zoning arrangement if allowed to stand, will further polarize the party, dampen the morale and confidence of members and greatly weaken the support base of our party.”

They insist on stopping the zoning as dust continued to be raised over it. Hear them, “the Stakeholders forum strongly calls on the SWC to withdraw the contentious zoning arrangement and void all decisions that will engender further conflicts in the party particularly at this auspicious time in the party’s life”.

The Forum chairman, Hon. Chikodi Dennis noted that there is gathering conflicts around the oncoming 2023 party Congress, morale of members at low ebbs following the woeful performance in the 2023 general elections and yet to be addressed polarization of the party, among other lingering issues.

Following the discontent the aggrieved aspirants have therefore urged the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and governorship candidate for the March 18 2023 Abia state gubernatorial election, Professor Gregory Ibe and other leaders to halt the arrangement.

Abaribe who represents Abia South Constituency, it would be recalled won his re-election bid on the ticket of APGA having defected from the PDP.

Reacting to the formula, APGA Women Leader, Abia state, Amarachi accused the outgoing State Chairman, Rev Augustine Ehiemere of bias and said he is the brain behind the formula. The women leader who alleged that the formula was targeted at her said it was self-serving. She further claimed that the motive was suspect and also shrouded in a hidden agenda.

Although Ehiemere has yet to respond to the allegations, tongues have since been wagging, deepening to the leadership crisis rocking the party at the national level.

A highly placed chieftain of the party in Abia who prefers anonymous hinted at imminent implosion in the party should the arrangement not reversed immediately. He said that it was regrettable that “some cables are plotting to hijack the party by coming up with the zoning formula that is not generally accepted”. He said that the leaders need not to be told that the zoning formula is already tearing the party apart.

He further said that the formula is unpopular, adding that the ‘cabal’ did not consult widely before arriving at the arrangement. He however cautioned that something drastic should be done to save the party from total destruction. He joined his voice with other stakeholders calling on Senator Abaribe and Professor Ibe to rescue the party by halting the zoning arrangement.

From inception the leadership of the party in the state shows all the three zones in the state have held the chairmanship position at different times without a strict zoning formula.

A Background of APGA Abia State (Leadership) Chairmanship position since 2002 to date reveals as follows:

1) Chief FRIDAY N. NWOSU (caretaker)

2) Hon OBIOMA EKPEM (Abia South)

3) BARR LONGMAN NWACHUKWU (Abia Central)

4) BARR MORGAN ANYALEWECHI (late)/ BARR NNANNA UKAEGBU (Abia North)

5) REV. AUGUSTINE EHIEMERE (Abia South)

In a comment exclusively obtained by News Express, the chieftain wrote: "That BIRD that cried and a child died has started crying again.

The so called zoning format released on a certain APGA social media platforms is a wicked selfish plot of a vicious cabal of 5 persons who brought APGA to her lowest Political ebb.

“I could tell without equivocation or fear of contradiction that the ace leaders of our party is not aware of this devilish format.

“The intent of the 5 plotters is to ambush and blackmail the ace leaders of our great party APGA, in order to perpetrate and sustain their selfish interests.

“Prof Greg Ikechukwu Ibeh, a seasoned administrator and Political juggernaut, and Most Distinguished Senator Enyi Abaribe (Mma agha Ndigbo), a seasoned Political colossus should halt this dangerous move by a desperate cabal of (5 persons) manipulate, highjack the leadership of the party to further perpetrate impunity and another dimension of crisis in our party.

“You'll further recall that the refusal to obey the traditional zoning arrangements in Abia state is what destroyed the almighty PDP in Abia State in spite of all powers, paraphernalia and influences of incumbency.

“Abia APGA MUST not be dragged into another episode of fratricidal Political crisis precipitated by the inordinate ambitions of a privileged cabal of 5 individuals.

“A stitch in time (they say) saves nine”.

It would be recalled that controversial zoning formula as presented by the chairman is showing that the positions have been zoned in this order:

"APGA ZONING OF STATE OFFICES FOR 2023 CONGRESSES IN ABIA STATE

ABIA NORTH

*CHAIRMAN

*ASST SECRETARY

*ASST YOUTH LEADER

*FINANCIAL SECRETARY

*PUB. SECRETARY

*ASST AUDITOR

*ASST WELFARE OFFICER

*LEGAL ADVISER

ABIA CENTRAL

*DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

*WOMEN LEADER

*ASST FIN SEC

*ASST ORG SEC

*TREASURER

*ASST. LEGAL ADVISER

ABIA SOUTH

*SECRETARY

*YOUTH LEADER

*WELFARE OFFICER

*ORG. SECRETARY

*ASST PUBLICITY SECRETARY

*AUDITOR

*ASST WOMEN LEADER

*ASST TREASURER

“NOTE: EACH ZONE TO PRODUCE ONE EX-OFFICIO MEMBER AND ZONAL CHAIRMAN (STATE VICE CHAIRMAN)”.

But another stakeholder while reacting to the zoning queried the motive behind it and also asked a question on which zone should produce the governorship candidate in the next election under the zoning arrangement. The stakeholder maintains, “Equity and justice MUST prevail in APGA Abia State. Abia Central MUST be allowed to produce the state Chairman”.

Sources said aspirants have questioned the modality and rationale behind the arrangement. An insider, it was learnt, said one of the aspirants who had earlier indicated intention to run for the highest office is now in a state of confusion over the heat being generated by the zoning formula.

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