The imbroglio of internal squabbles within southeast based political parties appears to provide fertile grounds for the birth of new political parties. Information available to 247ureports.com through sources close to the organizers of the new party, the United Progressive Party [UPP] indicates that Chekwas Okorie and his political team has finalized the arrangements for the birth of the new political party.
It is recalled that Chekwas Okorie formed the now embattled All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] following the messy political battles of the People Democratic Party [PDP] in south east Nigeria. Following the formation of the party [APGA], Ikemba Nnewi was recruited into the party and crowned the father of the party. Ikemba Nnewi became its first presidential candidate in 2003. In 2003, APGA won its first political office – the gubernatorial seat in Anambra State – in the person of Mr. Peter Obi. But Mr. Peter Obi did not mount the seat till March of 2006 following a tribunal ruling that ousted the then PDP governor, Dr. Chris Ngige.
Through the mechanizations of political tussles within the APGA, the founder of the party, Chekwas Okorie found himself tossed out of the party for reasons that remain foggy till date. Chekwas Okorie fought vehemently to return to the realm of affairs at the party but the resources to wage the battle against the new structure within the party proved insurmountable. Chekwas Okorie lost out. In talking to 247ureports.com in a phone conversation, Chief Okorie stated that the “spirit that formed APGA has departed APGA” and that it has become “useless fighting for control of the party. The party has become adulterated”.
The founder of APGA noted that his earlier attempt to form United Progressive Peoples Alliance [UPGA] earlier in the year was scuttled by the chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh – through a petition to the INEC where a claim was put forth that the UPGA resembles APGA and would generate undue confusion among the citizenry. The petition also highlighted the logo of the party as being unpatriotic and near treason. The logo selected for the defunct attempt was that of a rising sun – depicting one of the striking emblems of the Biafran flag.
In this new effort, Chekwas Okorie noted that his team opted to do the ground work of launching a new party below the radar – to avoid likely obstructers. He disclosed that the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] has virtually completed registration of the new party – and that the INEC has visited their offices and has cleared them. The new logo, he adds, is “Isi Agu”. Isi Agu which means Tiger’s Head is reported to have deep historical connotations within the south east and south south in cultural context.
“We intend to present a gubernatorial candidate in the 2014 Anambra electoral exercise”, said the founder of the party.
