South-East APC in Turmoil as Battle for Deputy National Chairman, South Deepens Ahead of Convention

Our Reporter 

Ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the contest for the position of Deputy National Chairman, South, has reportedly sparked fresh tension within the party’s South-East chapter, deepening internal divisions among stakeholders in the zone.

The position, which is zoned to the South-East, was further sub-zoned to Enugu State. Its current occupant, Chief Emma Eneukwu, who is seeking a second term, is facing a challenge from Dr. Ben Nwoye, a former Chairman of the APC in Enugu State.

Party sources described the race as a stiff contest, with stakeholders sharply divided not only over the Deputy National Chairman, South position, but also over other offices expected to be filled at the convention.

Amid the growing contest, allegations have emerged against the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, with some aggrieved party insiders accusing him of attempting to dominate the party’s regional leadership structure.

According to sources who spoke to journalists in Enugu, Uzodimma is alleged to be orchestrating a plan to impose Chief Eneukwu and other loyalists into key party positions allocated to the South-East, while sidelining other stakeholders and governors in the zone.

One source close to the party hierarchy alleged that the Imo governor had gone as far as purchasing nomination forms for the office of Zonal Women Leader and several other positions, thereby shutting out other interested aspirants.

“The Governor is putting hands in all the states, buying forms for Emma Eneukwu and others without allowing the governors of those states to have a say,” the source claimed.

The source further alleged that despite a directive from the APC national leadership that each state should produce its own representatives, there were moves to place the entire South-East structure under the control of one individual.

The push to return Eneukwu to office has also drawn criticism from some party members, who argue that he has remained in leadership for too long.

An aggrieved member claimed that Eneukwu has occupied strategic leadership roles in the party for about 17 years, spanning different political administrations in Enugu State, and questioned the propriety of his continued stay in office.

Perhaps one of the most sensitive allegations raised by insiders concerns the appointment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State. Some party members alleged that Eneukwu’s younger sister was appointed and posted to Imo State to allegedly facilitate Governor Uzodimma’s re-election bid.

There were also claims that Uzodimma was mounting pressure at the highest political level, including allegedly reaching out to the Vice President, in a bid to influence Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to support Eneukwu’s return to office.

However, reacting to the allegations, Chief Emma Eneukwu dismissed the claims, describing them as a “mere frame-up” by desperate aspirants seeking office.

Speaking on telephone with our correspondent, Eneukwu maintained that he is the Deputy National Chairman (South), not a South-East regional chairman, and insisted that his emergence has always been through democratic elections at the party’s national convention.

“First of all, I am not in charge of the South-East, I am the Deputy National Chairman South and Uzodimma alone cannot decide who becomes the national deputy chairman South. I emerged through elections in the convention and you should know that convention means election. So all the while that I have emerged, nobody had imposed me,” he said.

He also challenged the allegations of imposition, arguing that with three APC governors in the South-East, it would be impossible for one governor to single-handedly determine who occupies the office.

“We have three governors in the South-East—so how can Uzodimma blindfold them and impose me? So that is falsehood. If anybody wants to emerge, let the person leave excuses, go and work and come to the Eagles Square and win election,” Eneukwu added.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Media Aide to Governor Hope Uzodimma on the specific allegations, particularly those concerning the alleged purchase of nomination forms, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The unfolding controversy is expected to shape political calculations within the APC in the South-East as the party moves closer to its national convention, with observers warning that the deepening cracks could undermine unity in the region if not properly managed.