The troubles bedeviling the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] in Anambra State may appear dire and terminally unsolvable for the incumbent governor and the breakaway group of Martin Agbaso… in the viewpoint of impartial observers viewing from a distance.
Loading ...But the officials of the APGA appear unfettered in their resolve to continue in their planned programs for the party regardless of the existing court declarations and pending litigation. This is as information available to 247ureports.com suggests that the warring factions in APGA have concluded on conducting parallel primaries to select their respective candidates to vie for the seat of governor in the November 18, 2017 election.
In talking with the national spokesperson of the APGA [faction sympathetic to the Governor], Barrister Ifeatu Okoye, he made clear the decision of the APGA to carry on with its scheduled activities against the upcoming elections. “We will hold an open primary in August” said the spokesperson while explaining that the judgment obtained by the Martin Agbaso led group was obtained through fraudulent means. He maintained that Martin Agbaso remains a member of the People Democratic Party [PDP] and not a member of the APGA. “How can a non-member of the party be made Chairman by a court”.
He emphasized that with time the anomalies will be straightened out. “We need to get through the elections first”. According to him, the Judge who made the fraudulent declaration has found out that he was tricked by the Martin Agbaso group. But “we will address that in due time”.
The Martin Agbaso group on their part appear defiant as well. They are resolved to present another individual as the flag bearer of the APGA should the Governor, Willie Obiano fails to accept the conditions presented to him by the group.
247ureports.com does not have the details of the conditions. But a competent source close to the Martin Agbaso and to the political machinery in Anambra indicate that the Martin Agbaso group have no intentions of having the incumbent governor emerge as the flag bearer. “They want to rubbish him”. The source indicated that the Court ruling was procured by opposition politicians who had a vested interest in removing the incumbent governor. And, “the sure way is to deny him the APGA gubernatorial ticket”.
According to the source, south east politicians who are members of the All Progressive Congress [APC] and some aggrieved former members of the APGA worked behind the scene to procure the said judgment. “Former Governor of Anambra, Chief Peter Obi, the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, Jim Nwobodo, Ken Nnamani, Honorable Minister of Labor, Dr. Chris Ngige, Former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu and others were involved in procuring the judgment”.
But Martin Agbaso denies the allegation. He called it an insult to suggest he was holding a stolen or purchased judgment. He told 247ureports.com that he was too dignified to reduce himself to being used as a stooge. “I am not desperate for this”. He continued to add that he was “among the original members of APGA” before the rogues hijacked the party.
A close official of the Agbaso group spoke to 247ureports.com on the condition his name be withheld. He indicated that Martin Agbaso and Senator Obi had made several efforts to convince the incumbent governor to accept the Martin Agbaso group as the new chairman of the party. “He refused”. He claimed the Governor’s demeanor was not accommodating. “We left feeling insulted”.
The Martin Agbaso group will begin setting up parallel operations as of Wednesday June 28, 2017.
