….Vows To Defend Loyal Party Faithful
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
A group under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State Media Community has made a passionate appeal to the party’s hierarchy to hand the Anambra South Senatorial Zone by-election’s ticket to Sir Azuka Okwuosa, describing him as their consensus candidate.
Addressing newsmen in Awka during a press conference, the leader of the group, Dr. Val Iyke Oliobi, KSJI, warned against what the group described as a dangerous return of imposition of candidate in the party, saying that Okwuosa has all it takes to fly the APC’s flag in the election, calling on the Acting National Chairman of the party, Zonal and National Party Leaders, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, members of the State Working and executive committees, elders and stakeholders of the great party to look the way of Sir Okwuosa.
‘As you may be aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its timetable for the conduct of various by-elections to fill vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies created by the unfortunate demise or resignation of their former occupants.
‘Specifically, following the tragic passing of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District until his death in 2024, a senatorial by-election, has been scheduled to elect his successor.
‘On this note, we the APC Anambra State Media Community, stand before the conscience of this great party today to make a heartfelt, unflinching, and non-negotiable appeal that echoes the voices of faithful party men and women across every ward and local government in Anambra South for our party to do what is right, do what is just and do what is long overdue.
‘It is pertinent to remind ourselves that in Sir Azuka Okwuosa, we have not just an Aspirant; we have a bridge builder, a battle-tested soldier, and a loyal son of APC whose hands have held the plough and never once looked back.
‘Our great party has been here before, and we will not walk this road of betrayal again. The wounds of the past still bleed. Let’s avoid future miscarriage of justice, abuse of internal democracy and a political tragedy of a house divided against itself by greed, imposition, and disrespect for due process.
And we are dare to ask: Must we allow history to repeat itself again and again like a broken record?
‘We say this without blinking: the days of imposition are over. The spirit of this party must no longer be hijacked by backroom shady deals and endorsements. This party chapter has now outgrown deception and hoodwinking by men with a narrow agenda. Our party chapter is now awake more than ever before.
We are not the same silent, wounded party of yesterday. This time, we will resist imposition tooth and nail. This time, the people will speak, and their voices will thunder through the ballot, not whispers in hotel rooms.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, Azuka Okwuosa is a colossus who has stood through every storm.
In every family, when you see a Son who has laboured in sunshine and in rain, who stayed when others left, who gave when others took, who built when others destroyed; definitely that Son will never be ignored at the time of harvest.
‘For the sake of refreshing our memories, Sir Azuka Okwuosa is a foundation member of our party from AC to ACN to APC. This is a man who won the Senate seat in 2003 but was robbed by the system. A man who led our gubernatorial campaign rallies in 2017 that attracted VP Osinbajo and President Buhari.
A dye in the wool party leader who chaired the Fact-Finding Committee that submitted a report that the party feared to act upon. A core partyman who, despite being cheated in 2019 and 2021, still donated over ₦100 million to the campaign effort in these elections.
‘Azuka Okwuosa is the architect of the most successful APC rally in Nigerian history in 2023, which became so iconic that it became the national advert of our great party in the entire federation.
‘If this man does not deserve the ticket, then who does? Shall we continue to pour new wine into old wineskins? Shall we continue to reward strangers while faithful sons eat crumbs from the Dinning Table? God forbid!
‘We call on the leadership of our party that this is the time to stand on the side of history because we can bet that this time, the eyes of the grassroots are open, and listening with rapt attention, and watching to see whether loyalty will be rewarded or is betrayal the only path to the top?
But, if reconciliation means anything, if party discipline means anything, if moral justice means anything, then Azuka Okwuosa is the answer. Full stop. If the party turns a blind eye again, let no one say they were not warned.
‘We say this is not in rebellion, but in truth; APC Anambra State will split at the seams if injustice is forced again, and this will deter our much cherished quest to build cohesion and forge consensus.
Going forward, we would like to reiterate that Anambra State APC Media Community will not fold their arms while loyal men are pushed aside. We will not sacrifice silence for peace that leads to collapse. The era of “Party Supremacy” without “party fairness” is gone. The grass will no longer suffer while the elephants fight. Therefore, our intervention is anchored on the basis of honour and not just mere politics.
‘Sir Azuka Okwuosa is not asking for pity. He is not begging for power. He has earned this with his blood, his sweat, and his unwavering loyalty. This is a man who has governed as Chairman of Old Nnewi LGA. Served as Commissioner for Works and Transport that developed roads that still carry the feet of Ndi Anambra to date.
A quiet philanthropist through the Irene Okwuosa Foundation that gives to the society with all his heart and might. Above all, he is a man whose name still commands respect and not controversy.
‘Finally, we hereby endorse Hon. Chief Azuka Okwuosa (Chinyelugo) as a consensus candidate for Anambra South Senatorial By-election. We also implore all our party members, our leaders, and every stakeholder of goodwill to hear our appeal clearly: let Azuka Okwuosa fly the APC flag for Anambra South Senatorial District by-elections. Let imposition die a permanent death in Anambra APC. Let justice speak louder than manipulation because, as they say; injury to one is injury to many, and the sun must first shine on those standing before those sitting.
‘It is noteworthy that this Senate election is a test run for the November 8th Governorship election. Therefore, this Senate election is a must win. You are all employed as party faithful to work assiduously for the success and victory of our Candidate come November 8th, our Governorship Candidate will smile to victory.
While Azuka Okwuosa as the Senatorial Candidate will be a beautiful bride of victory that will bring the accomplishment of the November 8th Governorship Candidate. We are optimistic that our victory is assured by God’s grace,’ he concluded.
