Concerned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State have urged the party’s National Chairman to conduct open, inclusive, free and fair ward, local government and state congresses in the state.
The stakeholders made the call in an open letter read by a former Deputy Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Mike Ugwa. They argued that the current party leadership in Anambra has become ineffective and that the party must elect new executives at all levels to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They described the party as moribund and blamed its poor electoral performance on what they called inactive and uninspiring leadership.
“The present party executives from ward to state are not only inactive, they have totally lost steam, culminating in Mr. President garnering an embarrassing 5,111 votes in Anambra State in the 2023 presidential election,” the letter stated.
The stakeholders insisted that the party cannot make meaningful progress in the state without a complete overhaul of its leadership structure.
“For Mr. President to make an appreciable inroad in Anambra State in the forthcoming presidential election in 2027, and for APC to be alive again in Anambra State, it is very necessary that entirely new executives at all levels of our great party in Anambra State are elected,” they said.
They also highlighted the influx of new members who joined the APC from other political parties after the 2023 presidential election.
According to them, the number of new entrants now exceeds that of existing members, making it necessary to accommodate them in the new leadership structure.
This they noted makes it imperative that the congresses hold to allow new members to vie for leadership positions.
“This will give them a sense of belonging lest they feel constrained to leave our great party.
“It will further undermine our party’s capabilities, knowing fully well that Mr. Peter Obi of ADC is from our state.”
Allegation against Ekwunife Committee
The stakeholders accused the committee chaired by Senator Uche Ekwunife of working against the resolution reached by party leaders in Abuja to organise open and transparent congresses in Anambra State.
The party set up the committee to oversee the harmonisation of ward and local government congresses and to submit recommendations to the state caucus for deliberation and adoption.
However, the stakeholders alleged that Senator Ekwunife and Hon. Nze Chidi Duru have taken steps to frustrate that process.
“Mr. Chairman, we bring to your attention that Senator Dr. Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Nze Chidi Duru are bent on derailing the upcoming congresses and also destroying the party in Anambra State,” the letter read.
They further alleged that the duo issued a statement endorsing the current executives to remain in office for another four years, contrary to the caucus decision.
“Against the decision of the Anambra State caucus, the above-named persons have issued a statement to all levels of the party executives in Anambra State.
“They said they are endorsed to remain in office for another four years and that there will be no all-inclusive, free and fair congresses.”
They accused both leaders of pursuing personal interests at the expense of the party’s growth.
To illustrate what they described as the party’s declining grassroots strength, the stakeholders cited the APC’s performance in Hon. Duru’s polling unit in Nkpologwu village during the 2025 governorship election, where the party reportedly secured only four votes.
Call for National Intervention
The stakeholders urged the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to reject any list of party executives allegedly submitted by Senator Ekwunife and Hon. Duru.
They insisted that the two individuals do not represent the interests of APC members in Anambra State.
“Any attempt to perpetuate the present party executives in office will further destroy the party in Anambra State,” they warned.
They called on the national leadership to exercise its authority and ensure that the congresses strictly comply with Article 20 of the APC Constitution (2022 as amended), which guarantees that every eligible member can contest for any position.
The stakeholders copied the letter to members of the APC National Working Committee, the Chairman of the APC Convention Coordination Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, and the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Senator Pius Anyim.
Other sstakeholders, including Basil Iwuoba, a party leader from Anambra East; Kene Nzekwe, a former Senior Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue; and Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka, a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, warned that manipulating the congress process would further weaken the party’s electoral prospects in the state.
They maintained that only a transparent and inclusive congress can restore confidence, strengthen internal democracy and revive the APC in Anambra ahead of future elections.
