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Crisis is brewing in the Abia State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), as the State Working Committee of the party has passed a vote of no confidence on its state chairman, Hon. Victor Ogaranya Ifemeje, over alleged misuse of funds and other acts capable of affecting the growth of the party in the state.
The party also accused Ifemeje of undermining the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai.
The SWC further alleged that Ifemeje deliberately frustrated the party to the extent that friends of the NNPP’s party leader and presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, who joined the party, had defected to other parties.
Party sources told Pointblanknews.com that the embattled state chairman allegedly misappropriated a N1, 000,000 loan given to the party by the chairman, Board of Trustees of the NNPP, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, to facilitate the governorship primaries held August 3, 2022, in Umuahia.
Pointblanknews.com further gathered that the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai, has also refused to work with the embattled chairman, over the alleged anti party activities. The Secretary, Hon.Jonah Mbah now serves as the Acting chairman of the party while a new acting secretary has also been appointed.
A notice of vote of no confidence passed on the embattled state chairman and signed by all members of the State Working Committee of the party; Hon. Jonah Mbah-Secretary; Ularinma Patience Okorie- Woman Leader; Hon. Orji Awah Kalu- Abia North zonal chairman; Chidi Onyeije-State Youth Leader; Nkwachi Brown-Abia South zonal chairman; Barr. Nnanna Oru- Legal Adviser, among others; explained that the party in the state is on the verge of collapse as a result of the divide and rule system of the state chairman.
However, Ifemeje denied any wrongdoing and insisted that the party is united.
According to the notice; “The State Working Committee of the NNPP in Abia State reached an agreement to pass a vote of no confidence on the state chairman of our party for gross misconduct, financial misappropriation, anti party activities acts capable of stopping the party from having a governorship candidate and disregard for the party’s instructions and Constitution.
“The vote of no confidence is based on the recommendations of the SWC after thorough investigations in line with our party’s Constitution. You misappropriated N1, 000,000, given to the party by the chairman, BOT, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam to facilitate the governorship primaries on 3rd August, 2022. You refused to use it for the purpose, rather you diverted it to your personal purpose and your blatant refusal to refund the money to the BOT chairman, as he instructed.
“You deliberately frustrated the growth and development of the NNPP in the state to the extent that those who joined the party because of the personality of our presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, abandoned the NNPP and defected to other parties.
“Gross anti party activities of bringing non party members into the party as evident during the governorship primary of 3rd August, 2022.Your approaches, utterances and actions have always promoted the factionalization of the party. The party in the state is on the verge of collapse as a result of the divide and rule system of the state chairman.”