Ngige, Uba in tough battle over control of Anambra APC

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who is also the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, and the candidate of the party in the just concluded governorship election, Senator Andy Uba are at war, over the leadership of the party in the state.

It was gathered that while Dr Ngige will on Friday in his Abuja residence be hosting the party’s state caucus meeting, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Basil Ejidike, sponsored by Senator Andy Uba and deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke will on same day hold same meeting at Maitama in Abuja.

There are fears in both factions of the party over which of the meetings will attract attendance from members of the state caucus of the party.

There have been a running battle in the party in the state, with some members of the party having been sacked.

While some members of the party had affirmed the sack of Ejidike as the chairman of the party in the state, Ejidike had dismissed it, engineered the recent sack of the secretary of the party, Mr. Chukwuma Agupugo.

Agupugo had been accused of anti-party activities, while a source in the party told our correspondent that he was found to be loyal to Dr Ngige, who is opposed to the leadership of the party.

The genesis of the crisis in the party had been accusations against Ngige, who was said to have been opposed to the emergence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last election, Senator Andy Uba.

A members of the party and the media and publicity director of the Andy Uba campaign organisation, Hon Afam Ogene accused Ngige of attempt to return as the leader of the party, after having worked against its candidate in the last election.

“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.

Sources said the number of state caucus members who attend any of the two meetings would go a long way in determining between Ngige and Uba who commands the greatest respect in the state. (THISDAY)