The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has fired its Youth Leader, Innocent Nwanwa.
Nwanwa is a supporter of Stella Oduah, the former Minister of Aviation who was an APC member before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to APC sources, the development could be the result of Oduah leaving the party.
Oduah had joined the APC shortly before the state’s governorship election in 2021, but in a dramatic turn of events, she returned to the PDP, where she won the party’s senatorial ticket.
Nwanwa, who spoke at a press conference in Awka on Sunday, revealed that the party had fired him as its youth leader, a position he claimed he won during the party’s Congress in January, which was overseen by the party’s state chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike.
As a result, he said he had petitioned the national leadership of the party to redress what he called “grave injustice” against him.
He stated that it was wrong to punish him simply because his principal (Oduah) defected to another party.
His petition read in part, “It is on record that the APC, Anambra State Chapter on January 30, 2022 held her state congress, where members of the current State Executive Committee, including the State chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike were elected.
“I, Hon Innocent Nwanwa, was elected the State APC Youth Leader, and were subsequently inaugurated at the Party Secretariat, Amenyi Awka. The summary of the result sheet of the state congress is hereby attached for your kind perusal sir.
“It is however true that I joined the APC with Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah, upon her declaration on Thursday, August 26, 2021, but have since remained steadfast and committed with the party, attending Party functions and activities not minding the fact the Senator left the party.
“It is rather surprising, embarrassing and most unfortunate for the same beneficiary of the state congress, the State Chairman of the Party, Chief Basil Ejidike, to continue to boast and intimidate me with threat of removal.
“He, however, has stopped inviting me to State Executive meetings and sundry party functions, and have unjustly taken steps, and have indeed removed and replaced me with one of his errand boys, one Mr Jideofor Ejimofor.
“For record purposes, your Excellency, I am a bonafide APC member (attached herewith is my party membership card), with number An/Ogb/16/57524. I am an indigene of Ogbaru, and a voter in Iyiowa/Odekpe/Ohita ward.
“Your Excellency, kindly use your good office to correct this obvious injustice and illegality, to enable the party move into the upcoming 2023 general elections as one united family.”
Several calls put across to the state APC chairman, Basil Ejidike, for his reaction, proved abortive.