…Issues Disclaimer against Former State Chairman
By Jude Atupulazi
The National Vice Chairman of Accord Party, South East Zone, Chief Emeka Benjamin Chigbo, has warned members of the party and the general public against dealing with any other person but the state Chairman of the Party in Anambra, Hon Chinonso Ukpomeze, whom he has declared the authentic chairman of the party.
Chigbo, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the Anambra State Executive Members of the party in Awka, Wednesday, said the party had a constitution which they respected and that the constitution stipulated a minimum tenure of four years for elected officers and a maximum of eight if re-elected. He however, regretted that some members of the party wanted to flout the party’s constitution by staying way beyond their tenure, as happened in Anambra State.
His words, ‘Accord Party has operated in a vacuum as a result of gross misconduct of our former leaders, both at national and state levels, that was led by Mohammed Lawal Nalado and his National Executive Committee members who abused and neglected the Accord Party Constitution and that of Nigeria in many ways which led to legal intervention that compelled them to vacate their leadership positions over Accord Party and which paved the way for Rev Adeniyi Isaac Adebayo as the current National Chairman of Accord Party.
‘I want to use this opportunity to inform the general public to be wise and not fall victim of political fraudsters with their fraudulent claims and activities, especially in Anambra State, in the name of Accord Party.
‘Accord Party in Anambra has only one State Chairman by the name, Hon Chinonso Patrick Ukpomeze, who shall henceforth pilot the affairs of Accord Party in Anambra State alongside his State Working Committee Members.’
Chigbo who thanked members for their show of commitment by turning up despite the previous day’s disturbance, said Accord Party believed in producing a better governor, even as he used the occasion to set the records straight. He said those holding the party to ransom had overstayed their tenure and should not be making trouble, and urged members to henceforth pick leaders wisely.
In his speech, the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Amb David Ejimofor Joel, described political party as a vehicle that took one to their destination but that along the way, if that vehicle was going the wrong way, the passenger would be right to get down and take another vehicle. He described the day’s event as necessitated by the way previous leaders piloted the party’s affairs.
He stressed that the tenure of office for party leaders was four years and maximum of eight, even as he decried the antics of Mr Barth Igwedibia, known as Ikolo, whom he alleged to have been extorting money from members without remitting such to national.
The new Anambra State Chairman of Accord Party, Hon Chinonso Ukpomeze, in his acceptance speech, expressed delight at their inauguration, assuring that the party would be a force in the state’s politics. He thanked the National Exco for coming to Anambra for the inauguration.
The new Anambra State executive members are; Hon Chinonso Ukpomeze, Chairman; Dr Chidiebere Uba, Vice Chairman; Ndife Shadrach Nwafor, Secretary; Lady Anulika Anene, Women’s Leader; Mr Ebere Iloma, Youth Leader; Mrs Ada Igwe Uchechukwu, Ass Sec; Esther Ezeokoye, Treasurer; Michael Onwurah, Financial Secretary; Obinwanne Mmadu, Organizing Secretary; Hon Ikechukwu Igwebuike, State Auditor; Mr Christian Okafor, Pub Sec; Mr Chibuzo Obalim, Legal Adviser.
The Zonal State Chairmen include; Hon Sunday Anigbo, Anambra South; Mr Chibuzo Obalim, Anambra North; and Mr Ikecgukwu C.J. Ebere, Anambra Central.
