Uncertainty has taken over the Anambra State branch of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), as 18 Chairmen of political parties in the state on Friday endorsed the removal of their chairman, Chief Norbert Obi, following his recent ordeal in the hands of the national leadership of IPAC, the umbrella body of all registered political parties in the country.

Obi is the state chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). According to the Chairmen, Obi walked out of the IPAC meeting in Jos and was subsequently directed not to parade himself as the IPAC Chairman in the state, hence their decision to replace him with his deputy, Hon. Kate Okafor.

In his reaction, Obi said that he remained the state chairman of IPAC, saying that after his discussion with the National Chairman of IPAC two days ago, he was assured that there was no cause for alarm.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, the party chairmen said that they based their action on the decision of IPAC National Executive communicated to the IPAC delegates from Anambra State during the national conference held in Kuru, Plateau State, from on December 8 and 9. They said that Chief Obi was not allowed to participate in the IPAC meeting and seminar and was also barred from parading himself as the Chairman of IPAC in Anambra State pending the resolution of the petitions written against his election.

The party chairmen said they had resolved that Kate Okafor, the Deputy Chairman, should step in to act as the State Chairman in accordance with the IPAC Code of Conduct, which empowers the Deputy to act in the absence of the Chairman,

“All correspondence relating to Anambra IPAC should henceforth be done with the acting state chairman and the state Secretary,” the statement said.

Obi, however, dismissed the action of his colleagues, describing them as a bunch of frustrated people. “I am still the state Chairman of IPAC. I discussed with the National Chairman, informing him of the action of some of the party Chairmen in Anambra State and he assured me that there is no problem,” he said.

Recalling what transpired during the election that brought him into office as the Anambra State Chairman of IPAC, Obi said that after the disqualification of one Dr. Igwilo from contesting the election, only himself and the chairman of the Labour Party contested and he defeated the LP chairman.

He further denied the allegation that he shared money during the election, which was contained in the petition they sent to the IPAC national headquarters.

He maintained that it was the disqualified candidate that shared money during the election adding that there was never a time he was walked out of the meeting in Jos.

While calling on IPAC members in the state to avoid causing confusion, but rather unite in the interest of their various political parties and democracy Obi noted that he was only told before the meeting commenced in Jos to wait outside, which he did and later left from the venue.

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