Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have strongly opposed an alleged move to alter the outcome of the party’s recent congress, where Hon. Maria Ejielo emerged as the State Women Leader.
In a petition addressed to the state chairman of the party, the aggrieved members described the purported plan to substitute Ejielo’s name with that of Mrs. Ify Okonkwo, who had earlier withdrawn from the race as unacceptable and a violation of democratic principles.
According to the stakeholders, the office of the State Women Leader, alongside that of the Zonal Legal Adviser, had been duly zoned to Idemili North Local Government Area by the Anambra State Congress Committee.
They noted that delegates and party faithful from the area participated fully in the congress held at the Anambra Central venue, where the elections were conducted transparently and without bias.
The petition detailed how interested candidates openly declared their intentions before party members.
For the position of State Women Leader, Hon. Maria Ejielo and Mrs. Ify Okonkwo indicated interest, while Hon. Chuma Chukwurah and Mr. Basil Ugwu contested for the office of Zonal Legal Adviser.
The stakeholders recounted that during the process, Mrs. Okonkwo reportedly displayed limited familiarity with the party’s local structure, a development that drew reactions from attendees.
Subsequently, upon observing the overwhelming support for Ejielo, Okonkwo voluntarily stepped down from the contest, paving the way for Ejielo’s emergence as the consensus winner.
Similarly, in the contest for Zonal Legal Adviser, Mr. Basil Ugwu withdrew after recognizing the strong backing for Hon. Chukwurah, who was thereafter declared winner.
The petition emphasized that the entire process was conducted in an open and credible manner, with video evidence available to attest to the transparency and compliance with democratic standards.
“It is therefore unfathomable to be informed that the results of the congress could be altered to favour individuals who neither participated meaningfully in the process nor demonstrated commitment to the party’s growth in Idemili North,” the statement read.
The stakeholders warned against any attempt to undermine the will of party members, insisting that such actions could destabilize the party’s unity and credibility at the grassroots level.
They reaffirmed their collective resolve to resist any imposition or manipulation of the congress outcomes, urging the party leadership to uphold the sanctity of the democratic process.
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