No fewer than 16 candidates are jostling for the chairmanship position ahead of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) state congress, scheduled to hold on Tuesday in Anambra State. The chairmanship position is zoned to Anambra Central Senatorial District, and the contenders engaged in a debate organized by the Anambra Independent Support Group on Monday.
During the debate, the aspirants unanimously observed the high rate of defections of party members to other political parties, with lamentations that these defections do not depict the party in a positive light. Among the candidates was Ifeatu Obiokoye, who attributed the reasons for the defections to over-dependence on the state government’s appointments. Obiokoye made a case for a revamped reward system that should be established post-election so members can have other sources of sustenance, rather than depending solely on state government appointments.
If elected, Obiokoye pledged to work towards the immediate return of defecting members to the party. He opined that the recent spate of defections from the party proves that APGA needs far-reaching and urgent plans to retain its position as the third-largest political party in Nigeria. Obiokoye also suggested the need to establish a cooperative scheme financial welfare system, where party members can access funding for small-scale projects.
Obiokoye firmly believes that there should be equal opportunities for the youth, women, and elders, and that under his leadership, no one should feel restrained in their growth and development. He promised to continue APGA’s approach to provide dividends of democracy to the people and expressed his support for the interventionist approach of the party.
Similarly, Anthony Dunga promised to give women and youths important positions in his leadership. He said he would work towards giving them a chance, even at the national level since they are critical to the growth and development of the party.
Speaking earlier, the convener of the debate and Coordinator, Anambra Independent Media Support Group, Dr Harris Odili, stated that the current political trend in the country demands purposeful leadership to drive the party’s fortunes to electoral victory. He noted that the office of Chairman is exalted and demands respect since Anambra State is the spiritual, social, economical, and political hub of APGA.
Seven out of the 16 aspirants attended the debate and pledged their support to the eventual winner of the state congress. They emphasized the need for unity to move the party forward and bring back its past glory.
