Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party's presidential candidate, and Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), have come under fire from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State for Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige's stances.
In a statement released on Sunday, the party denounced the Minister for not formally endorsing Tinubu on national television before the general election in 2023.
When the presenter asked Ngige on national television to openly declare his preference between Tinubu and Obi for president, Ngige declined.
Due to his friendships with Tinubu and Peter Obi, the minister told the host that it would be difficult to respond to the topic.
In a statement personally signed by Anambra chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, the party in the state dissociated itself from Ngige’s comments and declared their support for Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kassim Shetimma.
Ejidike said Anambra APC has started grassroots mobilisation for the victory of its presidential candidate and all other candidates contesting on the platform.
According to him, Anambra APC will work hard to give Tinubu a surprising result at the polls against all odds, adding that Ngige only spoke in his capacity.
Ejidike said: “Ngige never said he represented the party during the interview and whatever he said was personal and does not reflect the position of the party in Anambra State.”
He called on the public to disregard misconceptions that Ngige’s response in the said TV interview might have caused, adding that Anambra will honour Tinubu and the party with massive votes in the forthcoming general elections.
The party also declared that one Okelo Madukaife who was a former publicity secretary in the state had since 2020 ceased to be its spokesman.
“Okelo had been sacked by the party in 2021 and replaced with Valentine Oliobi as the substantive publicity secretary of the party in the state.
“He has been parading himself as the party’s spokesman when he is not a member.
“If the former national chairman of the party Adams Oshiomhole could step aside, I don’t know why Okelo Madukaife is still parading himself as the publicity secretary of the state APC.
“He was suspended in July 2021 for anti-party activities. As chairman of the party, I am not aware that Okelo has been re-admitted to the party. He is not a member of Anambra State APC,” he said.
According to him, in January this year, Anambra State APC conducted an election and because he was sacked he could not purchase a form to participate in the process.
He said during the election, Valentine Iyke Oliobi was elected as the substantive publicity secretary of the state APC.