Former Enugu APC Chairman, Barr. Ben Nwoye, has officially parted ways with the All Progressives Congress, ending his years-long association with the party. He announced his resignation during a press conference on Thursday, citing a total breakdown of party structure in Enugu State.
Although he hasn’t declared his next move, Nwoye emphasized that his decision came after thorough consultations with his grassroots supporters.
Leadership Collapse and Factional War
According to Nwoye, the Enugu APC has splintered into two bitter factions. One group draws its authority from a judicial pronouncement, while the other, he claimed, disregards the same court ruling with quiet backing from the party’s national leadership.
He explained, “The broom we tied together in 2013 has unraveled. What remains are two rival groups battling for control. Despite repeated reconciliation efforts, unity remains impossible.”
Nwoye didn’t stop at Enugu. He also accused the South East APC leaders of engaging in petty, retaliatory politics. Instead of expanding the party’s influence across the region, he said they spend their energy targeting internal dissenters.
“In their view,” he noted, “party supremacy is proven by how harshly they can punish those with differing opinions. This contradicts everything the APC claims to stand for, justice, peace, and unity.”
Furthermore, he criticized the APC’s national leadership for its inaction. He claimed the top brass is too focused on federal power and has ignored the growing discontent within state chapters.
“They are willfully blind,” he said. “By refusing to intervene, they’ve allowed the party in Enugu to cannibalize itself. Worse still, they treat appeals from party elders with indifference and loyal members with disrespect.”
Abandonment of Founding South East Figures
Nwoye also highlighted what he described as a troubling pattern of neglect. Key South East APC figures who once played vital roles in the party’s growth, he said, have now been pushed aside.
“In Anambra, Senator Chris Ngige was ignored during the ticketing process. In Abia, the voices of Dr. Ikechi Emenike and Ayim Iyerenye have been silenced. And in Imo, where are Rochas Okorocha and Ugwumba Uche Nwosu?” he asked.
“These men made real sacrifices to build APC in the region. Now, their contributions mean nothing.”
“I Refuse to Be a Political Prisoner”
In closing, Nwoye affirmed his resolve to leave what he now considers a broken platform.
“I am not a political prisoner,” he declared. “I never have been, and I never will be. The time has come to seek a new frontier.”
His resignation, though not unexpected, further exposes the fragile state of the APC in the South East. As internal divisions deepen, the party may struggle to maintain relevance in a region where it already fights for footing.
