●Members demand inclusive, transparent congresses
●Petition National Chairman, reject tenure extension for executives
Fresh cracks have emerged within the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations by party members of attempts to undermine the forthcoming ward, local government and state congresses.
A sizeable number of APC members in the state have petitioned the party’s National Chairman, Barr. Nentawe Yilwatda, accusing some leaders of making subtle moves to retain the current executives rather than conduct open and competitive congresses.
The members, who said they represent the majority of the party across the 21 local government areas of the state, insisted that the scheduled congresses must be all-inclusive, transparent, free and fair, in line with the party’s constitution.
Their position was contained in a jointly signed communiqué and petition issued after a stakeholders’ meeting held in Awka on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Copies of the petition were also forwarded to other national officers and key stakeholders of the party.
According to the group, the tenure of the Chief Basil Ejidike-led executive has elapsed and should not be extended under any guise. They called for the election of a new set of executives at all levels to reposition the party in the state.
In the petition, the members stated: “We, the representatives of the overwhelming majority of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State, appeal to the National Chairman to ensure that the upcoming congresses in Anambra State are all-inclusive, open, free and fair, and that every member of the party is at liberty to contest for any position of his or her choice.”
They described the party in Anambra as moribund and in urgent need of reorganisation and revitalisation, blaming the current executives for what they called poor performance in recent elections.
“The present party executives from ward to state levels are largely inactive and have lost momentum, a situation that culminated in the party recording only 5,111 votes in the 2023 presidential election in Anambra State,” the petition read.
The members argued that for President Bola Tinubu to make meaningful political inroads in Anambra ahead of the 2027 presidential election, there must be a complete overhaul of the party’s leadership structure in the state.
They also cited the influx of new members into the APC following the 2023 elections, noting that many defectors from other parties now outnumber the party’s old members based on recent e-registration data. According to them, these new entrants must be accommodated in the party’s leadership to give them a sense of belonging and prevent further defections, especially with prominent opposition figures originating from the state.
The petition specifically accused Senator Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Nze Chidi Duru of allegedly working to derail the congress process and impose a continuation of the current executives.
The members recalled that at an expanded APC Anambra caucus meeting held on February 4, 2026, at Amor Hotels and Suites, Abuja, stakeholders resolved that the congresses should be open and competitive. A committee chaired by Senator Ekwunife was reportedly constituted to harmonise ward and local government congresses and make recommendations to the state caucus.
However, the petitioners alleged that contrary to that decision, statements were later issued endorsing the existing executives to remain in office for another four years and ruling out competitive congresses.
They rejected any such move, insisting that neither Senator Ekwunife nor Hon. Duru had the mandate to speak for the party in the state, and warned that any list of executives submitted by them should be disregarded.
The group cautioned that any attempt to perpetuate the current leadership would further weaken the APC in Anambra State.
They therefore appealed to the national chairman to intervene and ensure that the forthcoming congresses comply strictly with Article 20 of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended), guaranteeing openness, fairness and equal opportunity for all members seeking party offices.
