2023 poll: Ngige on his own over refusal to endorse Tinubu, says Ejidike

Ahead of the 2023 poll, the Anambra state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) says the Labour and Productivity Minister, Dr Chris Ngige is on his own over his refusal to endorse the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The chairman of the state chapter, Chief Basil Ejidike, in a statement noted that the position of Ngige was not a reflection of the electorates in Anambra state.

Ejidike disclosed that the Anambra state chapter has started grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu and all other candidates of the party adding that Ngige’s conduct should be viewed as his personal opinion.

He noted: “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.”

While expressing worry over the activities of one Okelo Madukaife who was the former state publicity secretary of the party, the state chairman declared that “Okelo had been sacked by the party in 2021 and replaced with Valentine Oliobi as the substantive publicity secretary of the party in the state.

“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 Okelo has been re-admitted to the party. He is not a member of Anambra State APC,” he said.

According to him, in January this year, Anambra State APC conducted an election and because he was sacked he could not purchase a form to participate in the process.