Concerned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State have warned the party’s national leadership that retaining the current state executives through imposition rather than open congresses will further weaken and potentially destroy the party’s structure in the state.
In an open letter read by a former Deputy Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Mike Ugwa, the stakeholders urged the National Chairman to ensure that the forthcoming ward, local government and state congresses are all-inclusive, transparent and competitive, allowing every qualified member to contest any position.
They based their appeal on what they described as the party’s “moribund” condition in Anambra, insisting that only a complete leadership overhaul can revive the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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 2023 presidential election,” the letter stated.
The stakeholders argued that the party cannot afford to repeat what they called past mistakes if it hopes to improve its electoral performance in the state.
“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 an entirely new executives at all levels of our great party in Anambra State are elected.”
They also pointed to the influx of new members who joined the party after the 2023 presidential election.
According to them, defectors from other political parties now outnumber the original members of the APC in the state, making inclusion in the new leadership structure critical.
“This will give them a sense of belonging lest they feel unaccepted and be constrained to leave our great party which will further undermine our party’s capabilities, knowing fully well that Mr. Peter Obi of ADC is from our state.”
The stakeholders accused the committee chaired by Senator Uche Ekwunife of working against the recent resolution reached in Abuja to conduct open and competitive congresses in Anambra State.
The party constituted the committee to oversee the harmonisation of ward and local government congresses and to make recommendations to the state caucus for deliberation and adoption. However, the stakeholders alleged that the committee leadership has taken steps that contradict the agreed 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.”
“Our appeal became necessary because against the decision of the said Anambra state caucus, the above-named persons have issued a statement to the all levels of the party executives in Anambra state that they are endorsed to remain in office for another four years and that there will be no all-inclusive, free and fair congresses in Anambra state.”
“We are not surprised of their resolve to undermine the decision of the state caucus because the duo are not interested in the growth of the party but to further their selfish and self-seeking interest.”
They cited the party’s poor showing in Hon. Nze Chidi Duru’s polling unit in Nkpologwu village during the 2025 governorship election, where APC reportedly secured only four votes, as evidence of declining grassroots support.
“That is why APC got only 4 votes in Hon. Nze Chidi Duru’s polling unit at village Nkpologwu during the 2025 governorship election.”
The stakeholders urged the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee to reject any list of executives allegedly submitted by Senator Ekwunife and Hon. Duru, insisting that the duo does not represent APC members in Anambra State.
“We further wish to state that Senator Dr. Uche Ekwunife who is a member of National Congress Committee and Hon. Nze Chidi Duru do not represent APC Anambra state and any list of party executives submitted by them should be totally rejected.”
They warned that retaining the current executives would further damage the party. “Any attempt to perpetuate the present party executives in office will further destroy the party in Anambra State.”
They called on the national leadership to enforce Article 20 of the APC Constitution (2022 as amended) and guarantee a congress process that allows every interested member to contest.
“Finally, it is our supplication that you use your good offices to ensure that the upcoming congresses in Anambra State is not only free and fair as guaranteed by article 20 of the All Progressive Constitution 2022 as amended but open to every member of the party who wish to vie for any position.”
The stakeholders copied the letter to members of the APC National Working Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, Chairman of the APC Convention Coordination Committee, and Senator Pius Anyim, Deputy Chairman of the committee.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
other party leaders, including Basil Iwuoba from Anambra East, former Senior Adviser on IGR Kene Nzekwe, and former lawmaker Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka, warned that allowing what they described as manipulation of the congress process could further erode the party’s electoral fortunes in Anambra State.
