Alleged anti-party activities spark clash between Minister, Abia APC chieftain

The Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has resolutely refuted accusations of anti-party conduct directed at her by Chief William Nwanguma, a prominent figure in the Abia All Progressives Congress.

The minister has cast doubt on the intentions behind the petition, maintaining that her statements at a recent gathering were misconstrued.

On February 3, 2025, Nwanguma lodged a petition with the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, alleging that Onyejeocha had endorsed Governor Alex Otti’s bid for re-election in Abia State, despite his association with the Labour Party.

In response, the minister asserted that governance transcends partisan boundaries and that recognizing exemplary governance should not be misinterpreted as disloyalty.

During a press briefing on Tuesday in Umuahia, Nwanguma claimed that “On Friday, the 28th of February 2025, at a road inauguration event in Umunneochi LG of Abia State, which the minister attended, she voiced her support for Governor Alex Otti’s re-election for a subsequent term.”

He further quoted the minister urging traditional leaders and the people of Umunneochi to rally behind the governor’s second term in office.

“As a concerned stakeholder of the Abia State chapter of our esteemed party, the APC, I wish to bring to your distinguished attention the anti-party activity of the Minister of State, Labour and Employment and former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha.

“The Governor of Abia State is not affiliated with the APC. The endorsement of his re-election by a former Deputy Chief Whip of the 9th House of Representatives and a current member of the Federal Executive Council—positions attained under our party’s auspices—constitutes an act of anti-party activity.

“This conduct has caused embarrassment to myself and other conscientious members of the party both within the state and nationwide,” Nwanguma stated in his petition to Ganduje.

He continued, “Your Excellency, the Abia State APC is the most rapidly expanding state chapter of our illustrious party, as the majority of opposition factions have dissolved under it to dethrone the governor, given his lack of performance and self-serving governance.

“This scheme includes key members of the Labour Party who are dissatisfied with the governor.

“It is therefore regrettable, disheartening, disgraceful, and malicious for the minister to not only entertain such thoughts but also to articulate them against a party that the state executive, leaders, stakeholders, and members are diligently striving to lead to victory,” he declared.

The APC chieftain urged Ganduje to investigate the matter and impose suitable sanctions if the petition is deemed credible.

In an interview with Track News Online, state APC Chairman, Kingsley Ononogbu, expressed that the party in the state was unaware of the petition.

He lamented that within the party, everyone had assumed a lordly stance in their constituencies, taking on responsibility and authority.

Onyejeocha questioned the interest of the petitioner, who hails not from Umunneochi but from Ukwa East.

She remarked that the governor had completed a 12km road, of which she had already completed approximately 8km in her ward.

Onyejeocha stated, “So if they extend an invitation, should I not attend? Did they not hear when I said Otti should secure the presidency in 2027? Why not come to my ward and suspend me?”