Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, an Enugu based Senior lawyer and a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) has been elected the new Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) in Anambra State.
Obi-Okoye’s emergence climaxed a weeklong of top level political activities involving series of consultations, stakeholders/caucus meetings, Wards, Councils and Zonal Congresses.
Ahead his eventual emergence late evening Tuesday at the Prof. Dora Akuyili Women Development Centre Awka, venue of the Anambra State congress, no fewer than fifteen(15)other aspirants offered to step down for him after series of meetings.
Prior to the announcement, the aspirants had taken turns to address the audience comprising of party delegates, members, supporters and observers including journalists and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who statutorily came to monitor proceedings announced their decision to step down for Obiokoye.
Besides emerging as the new State chairman, Chief Obi-okoye was the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of APGA and later Special Adviser on Political Matters to the former Gov Willie Obiano.
A visibly elated Obi-okoye in an interview shortly after, would restore unity and fairness in the party.
He specially commended Gov Chukwuma Soludo who personally participated throughout the Congress, for fostering peaceful and credible process. He appealed to all, particularly other aspirants to join hands with him to move the party forward.
Barrister Ifeatu Obi-Okoye has emerged as newly elected Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA in Anambra State.
Obi-Okoye’s emergence was a result of a unanimous decision by the 15 other aspirants to the position to step down for him in the party’s state Congress held at Prof. Dora Akuyili Women Development Centre Awka on Tuesday.
Earlier, before the Congresses proper, eight aspirants had concluded arrangements to step down for the winner.
At the Congress, each of the aspirants spoke openly, announcing their decision to step down for Obiokoye, which was endorsed by the delegates for the election.
Before now, Obiokoye was the National Publicity Secretary of APGA and later Special Adviser to the former governor of the state Chief Willie Obiano on Political Matters.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after being sworn in, Obiokoye noted that, as the state Chairman of the party would try as much as possible to ensure unity and fairness in the party.
He thanked the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo for ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process and urged his co-aspirants to join hands in moving the party forward.
A chieftain of the party, Hon. Mark Okoye, while commending the orderliness of party supporters during the exercise, says the 15 other aspirants step down for Obi-Okoye, for the sake of interest, peace and good governance of the party in the state.
He promised to work with the new Chairman to ensure a landslide victory for Gov Soludo’s second term in 2025.
However, widespread grumbles from members across the state at the Congress venue revealed that the new chairman will work 365days and on his toes every second to enable noticed wounds simmer or heal. Some had accused the governor of using his choice of new helmsmen at different levels to clearly announce his alleged vow not to share or savour his position with anyone at all.
It was further alleged that his hatchet man, one Glamour unilaterally subverted the choice of candidates/leaders chosen by members from the various communities, councils and zones. That in some instances stark illiterates, political neophytes and ‘yes’ men were foisted on the people by the governor without any form of consultation with established chieftains in the areas.
