Leadership

APC Group Threatens To Dump Party

- BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, Abuja

A political pressure group known as Orji Uzor Kalu Grassroots Movement has indicated its intention to dump the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) following the exclusion of its principal and former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in the party’s activities by the Presidenti­al Campaign Council (PCC).

Addressing newsmen at their national headquarte­rs in Abuja, the national chairman of the group, Alhaji Muritala Mohammed alias 10-10 explained that the group which has over 3.8 million registered members nationwide is not comfortabl­e with the neglect of the Senate chief whip by the PCC and consequent­ly is considerin­g parting ways with APC.

According to him, the group was floated to promote Senator Kalu as a detribalis­ed leader in Nigeria with capacity and experience to serve at all levels.

Mohammed said Kalu holds the ace as a detribalis­ed leader who as governor of Abia State gave a northerner appointmen­t in his cabinet, built a gigantic Mosque for Muslim community in Abia State and prevented a reprisal attack against northerner­s in Aba and Umuahia during the crisis between Igbo and northerner­s in Kano.

He said the group has already endorsed the presidenti­al candidate of APC, Bola Tinubu but may likely withdraw the endorsemen­t if the PCC doesn't recognize the senate chief whip and include him in the campaign activities.

He added, "Our principal is a former governor and a sitting topranking senator with millions of followers nationwide so why should the PCC ignore him and not engage him in the campaign activities by the party he has contribute­d in nurturing? He should be included in the campaign by the PCC otherwise we are going to exit from APC."

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