APGA Chieftain Accuses PG, Others of Defying Soludo’s Directive

By Lawrence Nwimo, Awka

A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr. Chuka Nwosu, has accused the President General of Nnewi Town Union, Mr. Jude Osumuoh, and others of undermining Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive on the party’s primary elections in Anambra State.

The accusation comes after an event held at Enem Hall, Otolo Nnewi, where Osumuoh publicly raised the hand of Engr. Paul Ileka, one of the aspirants for the Nnewi North State Constituency seat in the Anambra State House of Assembly, and declared him the preferred candidate ahead of the APGA primary election.

Governor Soludo, who is the national leader of APGA, had earlier issued a directive on the conduct of the party’s primaries.

According to Mr. Nwosu, “last week, Anambra governor, Chukwuma Soludo, gave an outline how APGA’s primary should go. The governor said that all party members running for office should go on and that at the end, it is the ordinary party members in the wards that will decide who gets the party ticket through open and direct primary election.”

Nwosu expressed concern that the actions at Enem Hall directly contradicted the governor’s position. “Some days after this directive by the governor who is the leader our party, some people gathered in Enem Hall, Otolo Nnewi, during public declaration of interest to contest and were raising the hand of an aspirant, claiming that it is a done deal. This behavior is very insulting to the leadership of APGA,” he stated.

He described the action of the Nnewi PG as a disregard for party guidelines and an affront to the governor’s authority. “As a party faithful, I am concerned about this level of high disregard for party guidelines by Osumuoh, who is serving as the President General of Nnewi town union. Why gathered and raise the hand of Engr. Paul Ileka, one of the aspirants of our party for House of Assembly saying that he has been selected?”

Three aspirants are currently seeking the APGA ticket for the Nnewi North constituency: Celestin Okeke, Ekene Iwuchukwu, and Paul Ileka. All three are from Otolo Nnewi, the community expected to produce the next lawmaker following the zoning arrangement after the current occupant from Uruagu.

Nwosu argued that Osumuoh’s declaration undermines the level playing field mandated by Governor Soludo. “This activity of Jude Osumuoh is an attack on the governor’s directive for a level playing ground for all our aspirants. If not, why must Jude, raises the hand of an aspirant claiming that he is the party’s choice? Who gave him such powers to undermine the party in Nnewi? Is APGA Nnewi different from the one the governor gave a directive? I don’t understand.”

He quoted the Nnewi PG directly from the event, saying: “This is what Osumoh said, ‘We have agreed that Paul Ileka will go. We all know him. If he gets there, and misbehaves, we will call him to order…I am the president of Nnewi. In the name of all Nnewi people, I am saying that he will go. As PG Nnewi, I am raising his hand.’”

Nwosu described the statement as “boastful speech and audacious action,” adding that “such boastful speech and audacious action of raising Paul’s hand while the primary election of APGA is yet to be conducted is a matter of intense worry for clearheaded party men and women who are observing events as they unfold. It is a confrontation to the party’s position during the summit which governor said that the party ticket will be decided by ordinary party people.”

He further warned that the development suggests the primary process may have been compromised. “If Paul Ileka has been chosen by Jude Osumuoh and his group, it is an indication that they have hijacked the APGA primary election process ahead of time, which undermines Governor Soludo’s clear directive on the primary election.”

Nwosu expressed worry that Osumuoh and some people in Nnewi could be bold enough to publicly undermine the governor and the party. He added that they were entitled to support anyone, but they had to do so without insulting the party and the party leadership.

Efforts to reach Mr. Jude Osumuoh and Engr. Paul Ileka for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. The APGA primary election for the Nnewi North State Constituency is yet to be conducted.