A deepening crisis has hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State following a sharp disagreement between the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and Governor Francis Nwifuru over the adoption of a “consensus arrangement” for elective positions.
The rift emerged after a stakeholders’ meeting where aspirants were reportedly endorsed for various positions, triggering pushback from Umahi, who warned against excluding contenders from the process.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister insisted that no aspirant should be barred from purchasing nomination forms, stressing that consensus must be built through engagement rather than imposition.
“I have spoken to Mr President and our governor and there was no instruction from Mr. President that those who want to contest elections in Ebonyi State should be shut off from buying forms,” Umahi said.
“Dialogue and negotiation should be adopted by the governor as to possibly reach consensus among all aspirants, and where consensus is not reached, then direct primaries must take place.
“I have no interest in any aspirant other than my support for governor and president. Consensus is only among aspirants supervised by the leader of the party, the governor.
“This position is to keep the party we have suffered to build together and ensure that we are united to make big votes for all our candidates, especially the President and Governor. No one person can do this alone. We need one another.”
However, the Ebonyi APC swiftly pushed back, describing the minister’s comments as misleading and capable of fueling tension within the party.
In a statement by its Assistant Spokesman, Arum Kenechukwu, the party said it was both “surprising and unacceptable” that a leader of Umahi’s stature would appear to contradict the party structure he helped build.
“Ebonyi APC stresses that urging aspirants to procure nomination forms or pursue political ambitions without the knowledge and endorsement of the governor amounts to a direct affront to party discipline and an invitation to chaos. It warns that any such guidance undermines established leadership,” Kenechukwu said.
“While referencing the Minister’s claim that there was no directive from the President restricting aspirants from purchasing forms, the party cautions that this must not be misconstrued as a license for indiscipline or disregard for the state leadership structure.Election Forecasts
“The party also raises serious concerns about the intent and credibility of the publication, suggesting the possibility of misrepresentation by the Minister’s media handlers. It describes the tone and content as provocative and capable of fanning the embers of discord, particularly by creating the false impression of disunity between the President and the Governor.”
Amid the escalating tensions, a pro-Umahi group, the Ebonyi Democratic Movement, issued a warning against what it described as attempts to create friction between the minister and the governor.
Chairman of the group, Emmanuel Igwe, called on the state APC to tender an unreserved apology to Umahi within 24 hours over what he termed “vulgar language” used against the minister.
Meanwhile, Governor Nwifuru has convened a restricted stakeholders’ meeting to resolve outstanding issues and conclude deliberations on positions not yet settled through consensus, as efforts intensify to contain the growing intra-party dispute.
