ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The All Progressive Congress, (APC), Anambra State chapter on Sunday, distanced itself from Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, for failing to publicly endorse the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he appeared on a live television programme.
This is coming a week after the Minister became the latest member of the ruling APC to publicly turn down the prospect of supporting Tinubu
Ngige, when he played a guest on a popular programme on Channels Television, Politics Today, hesitated when asked who he would vote for between between Tinubu and his fellow kinsman, Peter Obi of the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 elections.
Ngige had dodged the question, saying he was no longer active in politics and would make his decision on election day.
But while making a comparative analysis between Tinubu and Obi, he said that the former Lagos governor did creditably well in restoring sanity and order to the former Nigerian capital.
Senator Ngige’s statement had since caused a stir on social media and among his party supporters who condemned his speech.
After a meeting on Sunday, the leadership of Anambra APC disclosed that Ngige’s stance did not reflect the position of his people.
In a statement released and personally signed by the State chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, the party also criticized a former state publicity secretary, Okelo Madukaife, whom it claimed had stopped being its mouthpiece since 2020.
According to the statement: “Ngige never said he represented the party during the interview and whatever he said was personal and does not reflect the position of the party in Anambra state.”
Ejidike called on the general public to disregard any misconception the minister’s response on the live television interview might have caused, adding that Anambra would honour Tinubu and the party with massive votes in the forthcoming general elections.
According to him, the Anambra APC has started mass mobilization for the victory of Tinubu and all other candidates contesting on the platform at the grassroots level.
He further expressed optimism that their hard work would eventually give the APC presidential flag bearer a surprising result at the poll against all odds.
He also warned Madukaife, who had been replaced with Valentine Oliobi, to stop parading himself as the state APC image-maker.
“He has been parading himself as the party’s spokesman when he is not a member.
“If the former national chairman of the party, Adams Oshomole, could step aside I don’t know why Okelo Madukaife is still parading himself as the publicity secretary of the state APC.
“He was suspended in July 2021 for anti-party activities. As a chairman of the party, I am not aware that Madukaife has been re-admitted to the party. He is not a member of Anambra State APC,” he added.