Raphael Ede, Enugu
Battle for the soul of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu chapter took another dimension, yesterday, when Dr. Ben Nwoye allegedly tore Okey Ogbodo’s clothes at the party’s office.
Following the development, a detachment of police operatives from various formations, took over the state secretariat to ensure that peace was maintained.
There has been uneasy calm in the party, since the elective congress of the party on May 19, that produced two factional chairmen.
A faction is led by Ogbodo, which allegedly loyal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and another led by Nwoye, which allegedly had the support of the Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the pioneer chairman of the party in the state.
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While Nwoye-led faction claimed that his group was the authentic , the State Working Committee (SWC), Ogbodo-led faction also claimed his group was the authentic on the ground that his SWC was elected on the same day and venue of the state congress.
However, things reached crescendo yesterday when Ogbodo-led faction went to the state secretariat of the party to hold a meeting, but on getting there, Dr. Nwoye faction had already taken possession of the secretariat as early as 6 am.
When Ogbodo’s faction entered the secretariat to hold their meeting, Dr. Nwoye’s, who had taken possession of the secretariat alleged grabbed Ogbodo and tore his clothes right in the presence of the Police Commissioner, Danmallam Mohammed, who saved what would have been a bloodbath among the factions’ supporters.
Addressing newsmen earlier, Nwoye accused Onyeama of stoking the crisis in the party.
“This morning, group of South East youths of Enugu State extraction gathered here to pray for President Muhammed Buhari’s success in 2019, and they started the prayer at about 7am. Unfortunately, the people acting on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs came and told me that the minister has rescheduled the meeting and that people praying for the success of Buhari and APC South East should leave.”
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He said the minister could not have fixed a meeting in the secretariat without informing him, the chairman of the party.
Meanwhile, the Police Command has dismissed both factions from APC secretariat, urging them to go and resolve their differences, just as he directed that all meetings scheduled at the party’s secretariat should be put on hold.
The commissioner, who gave the directive, said the action was to maintain peace and order, as well as to prevent loss of live. Consequent on the police order, Nwoye -led faction stopped their prayers for Buhari and vacated the party’s office, while Ogbodo faction agreed to move to another venue for their meeting.
Ogbodo, while reacting to the development said: ‘‘We were to have a meeting with all stakeholders and party officials from the 17 local government areas in Enugu to deliberate on the forthcoming party primaries. However, when we entered the secretariat, Nwoye, who was already there with his group, grabbed me and tore my clothes.”