The former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Barr. Ben Nwoye, has officially announced his resignation from the party.
Nwoye made this announcement during a press briefing at De Sheriff Hotel, citing severe disintegration within the party’s leadership in Enugu State as the primary reason for his departure.
In his statement, Nwoye, who also previously served as a Federal Commissioner at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) representing the South East, expressed deep disappointment with the current state of the party.
“The bunch of ‘Broom’ which we painstakingly tied together in 2013 has loosened and permanently scattered,” referring to the symbol of the APC and the unity that once characterized the party.
Nwoye criticized the South East leadership for engaging in what he called “vindictive politics” and for failing to prioritize the expansion of the party’s influence in the region.
He condemned the leadership’s approach, stating that their focus seemed to revolve around oppressing perceived political enemies rather than adhering to the party’s foundational principles of justice, peace, and unity.
He further pointed out the ongoing factional disputes within the party, highlighting that two strong factions are currently at odds, each claiming leadership legitimacy, one through a judicial pronouncement and the other through defiance.
Nwoye accused the national leadership of the APC of negligence and indifference toward calls for reconciliation from party elders.
In his resignation, he emphasized that loyal party members who dissent from the national leadership’s stance have been treated with disdain, likening them to “prisoners of political war.”
He stated, “I have engaged in extensive consultations with my grassroots followers and I have come to the conclusion that it is time to move on,” affirming that he refuses to be a political prisoner.
Nwoye’s statements extended beyond Enugu as he noted similar disenfranchisement in other South East states, citing political figures like H.E. Senator Chris Ngige of Anambra and Dr. Ikechi Emenike of Abia, whose voices have been marginalized despite their contributions to building the APC in the region.
With this backdrop, Ben Nwoye’s resignation signifies a critical moment for the APC in Enugu, raising questions about the party’s future and the unity of its leadership in the South East.
