The state chairmen of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the South-East have rejected the appointment of zonal and state coordinators for the Seyi Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Council, accusing the arrangement of undermining recognised party executives and established structures.
The chairmen expressed their displeasure in a communiqué presented by the Enugu State APM Chairman, Ken Ikeh, during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states: Victor Umunna, Uzochukwu Eminent, Ohakam Kate, Ken Ikeh and Clinton Edoziem, respectively.
Although the chairmen reaffirmed their support for the presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his proposed RESET Nigeria agenda, they insisted that the establishment of campaign coordinators should not come at the expense of the party’s recognised state leadership.
They specifically objected to what they described as the imposition of zonal and state coordinators without adequate consultation with the affected state chairmen.
The communiqué stated that the arrangement violated the principles of internal democracy, collective responsibility and respect for the party’s established framework.
According to the chairmen, creating parallel campaign structures could generate confusion, fuel unnecessary rivalry, weaken existing leadership and threaten the unity required to achieve success in the presidential campaign.
They consequently appealed to the party’s presidential flagbearer and national leadership to dissolve the state coordinatorship structures and allow the recognised state executives to oversee campaign activities within their respective jurisdictions.
Chairmen Demand Control of Campaign Materials
Beyond their opposition to the appointments, the APM chairmen called for the transfer of campaign materials and mobilisation resources to the recognised state party executives.
They listed vehicles, branded campaign equipment, publicity materials and other logistical resources among the items they wanted handed over to the state chairmen for effective distribution and utilisation.
The chairmen argued that entrusting such resources to established party structures would promote transparency, improve coordination and ensure that campaign activities reflected the political realities and specific needs of individual states.
They maintained that the existing state executives possessed the organisational capacity and local knowledge required to mobilise supporters effectively.
Makinde, Bala Mohammed Urged to Intervene
The South-East chairmen appealed to Makinde and the party’s National Leader, Senator Bala Mohammed, to intervene urgently and resolve the dispute.
They warned that allowing the parallel campaign structures to continue operating could heighten tensions within the party, undermine organisational cohesion and jeopardise the progress already achieved.
While reiterating their commitment to Makinde’s presidential ambition, the chairmen stressed that their support must be accompanied by respect for established party structures and meaningful consultation with state leaders.
They also issued a warning that their continued participation in the current campaign arrangement could be reconsidered if their complaints were not addressed promptly and satisfactorily.
The communiqué stated that the chairmen might be compelled to take further appropriate decisions in the political interests of their respective states and the South-East geopolitical zone if the situation remained unresolved.
The development highlights an internal disagreement within the APM over campaign leadership, resource allocation and the authority of recognised state executives ahead of the anticipated presidential contest.
Despite the disagreement, the South-East chairmen maintained that their position was intended to protect party unity, strengthen internal democracy and ensure effective coordination of the presidential campaign.
