• Say He ‘ll Inflict Party With Denominational Politics
The Concerned members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have asked the party’s national leadership to reject the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in 2021, Chief Val. Ozigbo from joining the party so as to use its platform to contest this year’s governorship election in the state.
According to the group in a statement made available to journalists in Onitsha , Ozigbo, a loyalist of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate in 2023 general elections is believed to have concluded plans to join APC to contest for the party’s primary on April 5, 2025, since it has become clear to him that he would not make any headway with Labour Party.
But Chief Festus Ezeako, the chairman of the Concerned group warned in the statement he signed on behalf of his group that the party should not open its doors for Ozigbo as he would be coming into the party: “with his well known Church politics of denominational division which was introduced into Anambra State politics by his political godfather, Mr. Peter Obi”.
He alleged that Ozigbo made a u-turn from Labour Party and is now on his way to join the APC: “a party he has began to whip up religious and denominational sentiments already even before fully joining the it”.
The chairman of the concerned group said: “The bad news is that the Catholic/Anglican/Pentecostal politics which they used in destroying the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) , and which they also used to destroy Labour Party is the only value the former president and CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Transcorp, is coming to introduce into APC”.
Chief Ezeako accused Ozigbo of hinging his desire to join APC on “religious and denominational background”, which he said the party must reject instantly. “Anambra State governorship election has never been based on religion and denomination but rather on the strength and character of the candidate and the party the candidate is running on its platform,” he said.
The chairman alleged that during the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, Obi: “whose mole, Val Ozigbo, is now trying to move to APC, got all the Catholic bishops in Anambra State and beyond to endorse Ozigbo”, but he still lost the election because critical stakeholders in the state did not support religious sentiment being canvassed by Ozigbo , coupled with the resentment of other denominations who disdained the kite of denominational dichotomy being flown by Ozigbo in that election just as he is doing now.
Ezeako said: “All the stakeholders’ put together did not support him and he failed. He will fail again as Catholic/Anglican/Pentecostal sentiment has become a vexed issue in Anambra State governorship election.”
He continued: “Ozigbo’s entry into APC is a distraction, he is neither coming in with any political structure nor strong political influence or value . Obedient Movement has since fizzled out, which was not his structure anyway. So, of what value is Val Ozigbo’s entry into APC if not to cause religious and denominational rift in a party that does not accept religious and denominational division? APC should reject all appearances of religious and denominational sentiment which is what Val Ozigbo is coming to APC to fan”
Chief Ozigbo did not respond to texts send to him on the matter by the time of sending the story.
