Sam Obinna Ibe,
The Abia state Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance( APGA) Rev Augustine Ehiemere has said that he is still the authentic Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council,IPAC , Abia state chapter contrary to claims in some quarters.
IPAC Chairman disclosed this during a press conference in Umuahia to counter the claims of Prince Nnanna Ukegbu that is parading himself as the current Chairman of the body.
It could be recalled that Ukegbu took his purported Executive to Government House,Umuahia where they met with the Governor,Dr Okezie IKpeazu and introduced themselves as the authentic Exco.
Debunking the claims,IPAC Chairman cautioned Abia state Governor to be wary of those whom he described as charlatans who are parading themselves as IPAC Exco in the state when they are not truly one.
In a press statement signed by IPAC Chairman,Augustine Ehiemere and his Vice, Hon Chidi Nwosu respectively however advised Governor Ikpeazu to be ware of fraudsters and to disregard any other group masquerading as IPAC Exco in Abia state.
Ehiemere who further disclosed that the election that brought him and his Exco to office was conducted by delegates sent from their IPAC National Secretariat office Abuja and supervised by INEC and covered by reputable national newspapers and magazines,radios and televisions in Inec office Umuahia wherein he and other members of the Exco emerged in a free and fair election.
Sadly,he regretted that the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu allowed himself to be used by those fraudsters who came to pay courtesy call to the him in the government house.
“We are disappointed that the executive governor who is yet to respond to letters written by the IPAC executives of the state for a date to visit and have audience with the governor and he was deceived by the former IPAC Chairman, Hon. Emeka Okafor, who presented one Nnanna Ukaegbu as the state Chairman.
According the Rev. Ehiemere “we want the Governor and the general public to note the following facts, that Rev. Augustine Ehiemere is the current IPAC Chairman for 2018/2019 tenure, that IPAC membership is open to state chairmen of various political parties, and only one in such position is eligible to contest for any elective position in IPAC, the said Nnanna Ukaegbu is not known to be Chairman of any registered political party in the state because he lacks standing, he did not participate nor presented himself for any office in IPAC exco election that took place in INEC secretariat on 9thNovember, 2019 which produced Rev. Ehiemere led executive.
He maintained that in their letters to Governor Okezie IKpeazu, it was clearly stated before governor Ikpeazu about their emergence but wondered why the same Governor had resolved and adopted him Ukegbu as the consensus candidate when the facts are at his disposal to know the true position of things
To this end,he therefore urged the government, security agencies, relevant bodies and the general public to disregard any announcement or press release from Nnanna Ukegbu or his collaborators adding that IPAC under Rev. Ehiemere’s watch remain focus to work for a free and credible election in 2019.
Meanwhile,when contacted on phone,Prince Nnanna Ukegbu said he is the authentic Chairman of APGA and that a court of competent jurisdiction sacked Rev Augustine Ehiemere led state Exco of the party.
He added that that it was on the strength of the court ruling that thrown him up as the IPAC Chairman adding that until the suit is vacated that he still remains the authentic Chairman of APGA and by extension IPAC Chairman in the state.
Ukegbu further stressed that the so called majority of Ehiemere’s Exco have since left him to join forces with his own Exco and based on this that he is carrying out functions as IPAC Chairman in Abia state
