By Okey Maduforo Awka .
The ward Congress election for the conduct of the gubernatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress APC in Anambra state ended in confusion following the delay in the outcome of the exicise.
Meanwhile the eight man Congress Committee members of the party headed by Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar is no where to be found as it was alleged that they have gone into hiding.
Already, there is mounting anxiety within the camps of all the seven Governorship aspirants who were cleared last week by the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja, due to the delay to make public the outcome of the Congress election by delegates across the 326 wards of Anambra.
Majority of the party stakeholders are protesting that Committee members are yet to release the results of the Congress 24 hours after it was held across the wards in the 21 local government areas of the state.
Accusing fingers are pointing at the State chairman of the APC, Barrister Basil Ejidike over alleged sell out and compromise of the exercise with members of the National Congress Committee deployed to the state for the election.
Among the governorship aspirants who vied to be elected by 1, 630 delegates across the 326 wards during the Ward Congress of the party include Sir. Paul Chukwuma, Prof. Obiora Francis Okonkwo, Prince Nicholas Chukwujekwu Ukachukwu, Hon. Chukwuma Michael Umeoji, Chief Valentine Chineto Ozigbo, Johnbosco Obinna Onunkwo and Chief Esozie Madu respectively.
The committee is made up of Alhaji Mohammad Abubakar as Chairman, Egogbamu Okoro, Ba’ande Imam and Augustine Agada.
Other members of the committee include Mr Babangida Abdullahi, Umar Augie, Dr Chibuzor Nduaguda and Mr Emma Eneukwu, the party’s National Secretary.
As at Saturday evening, it was learnt that Sir. Paul Chukwuma who is a major contender in the governorship race is in fierce battle for the delegates nod to emerge as the party’s flag bearer ahead of the APC gubernatorial primaries billed for 5th April 2025.
Also in the race is the popular billionaire chieftain of the party and revered academia Prof. Obiora Okonkwo and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu who are out to give Sir Paul Chukwuma a run for his money and wits.
A protest by some supporters of the major aspirants almost affected the process but for the lait minute intervention of those aspirants who called off the protest.
As at 1:50pm on Sunday met the complex deserted even as few party members seen around the area were stranded as to what is the current state of things about the Ward Congress.
As at 3:29pm pm on Sunday the eight member committee were neither seen nor heard on the state of things concerning the Ward Congress election.
It was also learnt that key actors among the aspirants are rooting for consensus candidate and are therefore out to match each other huge billions of hard currencies or Naira equivalent as the battle for the number one seat hots up ahead of the party primaries next month.
There are strong indications that the outcome of the APC Ward Congress if not well managed may cause serious implosion which has the potential to rub the party the opportunity for the epic governorship contest come November 8, 2025 in the state.
Chairman of the APC in Anambra Barrister Basil Ejidike when contacted said, “It’s true we are having small small challenges here and there but the challenges are not enough to derail the whole process.”. he said.
