Following his resignation from the governing All Progressive Congress, the governorship standard-bearer of the Action People Party (APP) in the forthcoming 2023 general election in Abia State, Mascot Uzor-Kalu, has opened up on the reasons behind his decision.
Suggesting that he was shortchanged by the APC in its internal affairs mechanism and political arrangements, Mascot said inspite of his huge sacrifices, contributions and roles in the development of the opposition party in Abia State, the APC failed to compensate him.
He made this known while speaking during an interview with a cross-section of journalists in Umuahia, on the heels of the current internal clashes of interests by party leaders and critical stakeholders in his former party, APC in the state.
Mascot said, “my leaving the APC was not because of the leadership. I am a party man and a grassroots person and I can work with any chairman.
“My decision to leave was because APC failed to compensate me for the work I have done. Just because I have a brother, who is also a leader of the party, I was shortchanged in everything they did.
He added that when there is an opportunity for me to appear as somebody who is contributing in my own capacity, they will remind me that my brother is the Chief Whip in the senate and that others should be given an opportunity.
“But I told them that is not the way it is done. APC is a political party and people should be compensated based on the weight of their contribution. If we are 10 brothers and all members of the party and are also biggest contributors in the party, the ten of us should be compensated”.
“So, my decision to leave was because the party was not adequately recognizing me and my followers”, the former APC chairman submitted.