APC Stakeholders in Enugu North( Nsukka) Senatorial District of Enugu State have rejected the state executives zoning arrangement of party positions in the state. The stakeholders announced the rejection on Sunday at the end of stakeholders meeting hosted by Chief George Ogara, a governorship aspirant in Enugu State during the 2019 general elections at his residence, Unadu in Igboeze-South Local Government Area.
The Stakeholders approved the election of Dr Simon Ideke, former Commissioner of Health in Enugu State who is from Aku in Igboetiti LG as the new Zonal Chairman of APC Enugu North district.
Ideke replaced Mr Emecheta Okwu as the APC Zonal Chairman.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Chief Eugene Odo, former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly and APC senatorial candidate in Enugu North district in 2019 general elections, who chaired the meeting said the meeting rejected the zoning order since state exco members from the district and stakeholders were not carried along in the so called zoning arrangement of positions.
“The chairman of the party in the state Dr Ben Nwoye and few others will not stay in their bedrooms and announce zoning arrangements for APC members in the state”
“Enugu North district (Nsukka zone) has over 50 per cent of APC faithful in the state, it’s unfair and amounts to marginalisation to discuss issue of zoning positions without carrying the district along.”
“So stakeholders after deliberation on the issue unanimously rejected the zoning arrangements that allocated governorship position to Enugu East district, state party chairman to Enugu West district and retained Secretary position to Enugu North district among others. ”
Odoh stated further that”” This meeting has directed our members in the district to ignore the so called zoning arrangement and contest any position of their choice.
“If Nwoye led state Exco like, it should fix meeting where Exco and stakeholders in the state will discuss issue of party positions , zoning arrangements as it was done in the past.
“This is the position of stakeholders in Enugu North senatorial district which comprises party chieftains, state, LG and ward executives, “he said.
.According to Odo, the district would not take anything less than the Chairman of APC in Enugu State and one national executive position in any zoning arrangement.
Also speaking, Chief Fidel Ayogu, APC chieftain and former Nigerian Ambassador confirmed the decision of party stakeholders in the zone over rejection of the zoning arrangement.
He said that the district would not continue to allow to be marginalized by state officials . “Enugu North District has over 102 Electoral Wards out of 260 wards in the state.
“You can now understand why we rejected the zoning order and are demanding that the matter be revisited because we have the number to win congress and primary elections anytime any day , ” he said
Earlier in a welcome remark, Ogara, thanked the party stakeholders in the district for coming together to present the position of the district as it concerns the recent alleged zoning arrangement by state Exco.
“I thank you all for this unity of purpose to address the continued marginalization of Enugu North district by Enugu State APC.
“I thank you also, for your personal efforts and steadfastness towards achieving victory for APC in all elective positions in Enugu state come 2023 general elections, “he said.