APC, APGA in verbal war over 2017 in Anambra

AHEAD of the November 2017 governorship election in Anambra State, the two leading political parties in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) have commenced a verbal war aimed at outshining each other. The chairman of APGA in Anambra State, Sir Norbert Obi and one of the financiers of APC in the state, Nze Modestus Umenzekwe, have continued to disagree on the election, with each claiming victory.

Already, the APC has about five persons who have shown interest in the party’s ticket, while Governor Willie Obiano of APGA has also declared his intention to recontest, with another person, Dr. Elo Aforka challenging him. Speaking with The Nation in Awka yesterday, APC’s Umenzekwe branded APGA government in Anambra as a total failure, advising the government to begin to pack its bags in readiness to leave the Government House. He said the APC has put the necessary machinery in motion to make sure that Obiano does not return to the Government House because APGA has reneged on its campaign promises.

Umenzekwe said the APC has turned into the beautiful bride in the state because it controls the centre, despite all sorts of unprintable names given to it before the presidential election in 2015. According to him, “Anambra has been in opposition party for a long time and will not want to continue in that direction. That is why many people have defected to the APC, which has become a moving train” “So, with the array of people now in the party, I don’t think APGA stands a chance to challenge the APC in this state again.

They claimed it is Igbo party, where are the people that really made it Igbo party today? They should just forget the governorship this time around.” But, in his own reaction, the APGA state chairman, Sir Norbert Obi, described the statement of the APC chieftain as “the ranting of an ant”. He said those who were joining the APC from other parties in the state were those who had scores to settle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the ICPC, describing them as fair weather politicians, food is ready politicians.

The APGA chairman described the issue of APC taking over in Anambra in the November election as a tantalizing mirage, taking into consideration the present economic hardship in the country, which h said was caused by APC government. Obi said the APC should first concentrate on doing well in Imo State before thinking of taking over in Anambra, adding that Obiano had done well in agriculture, infrastructure and education among others. “APGA is fully prepared for the forthcoming election in the state. The APC is not on ground in the state and should forget the dream of winning the governorship election in Anambra State. Everything has been taken care of pertaining the election,” the chairman said.