By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The fierce battle between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has taken a new twist over the control of the party’s machinery in the state.

Ngige, a former governor of the state and a national leader of the APC, Uba, are in neck deep rivalry over who wields more influence in the party.

At the moment, the APC is torn apart following the power tussle between both arch-political enemies which recently culminated in the dramatic sack of Chief Basil Ejidike as the state chairman of the APC, which was perfected by some aggrieved party stalwarts believed to be loyal to Ngige.

Ejidike’s ouster was further compounded by the verdict of the Appeal Court which removed him from office a fortnight ago and reinstated Barrister Emeka Ibe as the state chairman.

Ejidike had insisted that he remain the state chairman of the APC despite the judgment of the appellate court.

At the moment, there are two factions of the APC in the state.

However, ThisNigeria findings has revealed that that while Ngige will today host a caucus meeting of the party in his Abuja residence, the state chairman of the party, Ejidike, who is allegedly backed by Uba, will on same day hold separate caucus meeting at unspecified venue at Maitama, Abuja.

Indications point to the fact that the number of members of the APC State caucus to attend both meetings today will determine where the pendulum will shift to as the battle royale keeps festering ahead of the party’s next political move and congresses in the state.

There are fears in both factions of the party over which of the meetings will be attended by caucus members of the party.

Some aggrieved members of the party are said to also be perfecting the recent sack of the secretary of the party, Mr Chukwuma Agupugo. Agupugo had been accused of anti party activities.

A source close to the party disclosed that the secretary was found to be loyal to Ngige, who is opposed to the leadership of the party.

The raging crisis within the party is traced to accusations against Ngige, who was said to have been opposed to the emergence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last election, Uba.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation (SAUGCO), Afam Ogene, had accused Ngige of attempting to return as the leader of the party, after having worked against its candidate in the last election.

According to Ogene, “You cannot abandon your troops in war time and seek a return to lead this same beleaguered people in peace time.”

Already, the stage appears set for the determination of who truly is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Anambra state.

The struggle is my life by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa

The chapter has been in crisis after Dr. Chris Ngige, abandoned the APC flock in the run up to the governorship election in the state.

Ngige was said to have kicked against the processes that threw up Uba as the party’s governorship candidate and thereafter distanced himself from the party’s quest to clinch the Anambra State Government House.

Ogene, in a statement yesterday in Awka, the state capital, said “But soon after the November 6, 2021 governorship election was concluded, the minister made a dramatic return, with an intent to superintendent over the forthcoming state congress, whereupon new executives to run the affairs of the party over the next four years would be chosen.”

He said, “You cannot abandon your troops in war time and seek a return to lead this same beleaguered people in peace time.”

Ogene, a former member of the House of Representatives, said, “Indeed, a pointer to the current face-off is the fact that both contending groups have fixed meetings of the state caucus of the party for tomorrow, Friday, December 10, 2021, in Abuja.”

“While the Ngige group is, according to an invitation sent out by suspended, state secretary of the party, Agufugo, meeting at the Justice Mohammed Bello, Asokoro residence of the minister, the group loyal to Uba and the current deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, are holding their own parley somewhere in the Maitama area of the city.”

“In the latter group are the state chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike, current and former national and state assembly members, former gubernatorial aspirants, and 14 out of 17 members of the state working committee of the party.”

“The number of state caucus members who attend any of the two meetings would go a long way in determining where the leadership balance will tilt. The caucus comprises persons listed under Article 12.9 of the APC Constitution (2014 As Amendaed).”