The African Democratic Congress, Abia State chapter, has warned the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Emeka Nwankpa, to desist from engaging with individuals it described as unauthorised leaders of the party in the state.
The caution was contained in a statement issued in Umuahia, the state capital, by the party’s publicity secretary, P. C. Okeiyi, following reports that Nwankpa had defected to the ADC alongside more than 5,000 supporters.
In the statement, the party said it remains open to working with coalition partners but expressed concern that some individuals were falsely presenting themselves as leaders of the ADC in Abia State, contrary to the recognised leadership under Emole Onwuasoanya.
The statement said, “Don Norman Obinna and three others allegedly acting with him were long suspended from the ADC and lacked the authority to speak or act on behalf of the chapter.
“Any membership cards issued by the suspended individuals are fake.
Such cards were neither issued by the chapter nor approved by the ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC).”
The party also dismissed claims of representation in Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South local government areas by Chimezie Ozems, stressing that he was neither elected nor recognised by the state leadership.
“The party recognised Raphael Nwachukwu and Ugochukwu Ugorji as the duly elected chairmen of Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South local government areas, respectively.”
Reaffirming its commitment to its constitution and internal democratic principles, the ADC said it is willing to receive new members but would not tolerate actions capable of misleading unsuspecting members of the public.
“The ADC Constitution remains supreme. As a law-abiding party, we are compelled to issue this warning. Obinna and his political associates are not members of the State Working Committee and have long been suspended from the ADC.”
