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— Demand Control of Campaign, Reject Parallel Party Structures
— Warn of Possible Withdrawal from Campaign Arrangement over Unresolved Grievances
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The five South-East state chairmen of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have called on the party’s national leadership and its presidential flagbearer, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, to address their concerns over the structure of the proposed Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Council, warning that failure to do so could trigger a review of their participation in the campaign.
The chairmen, representing Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, made the demand in a communiqué issued after a meeting in Abuja on Sunday and read by the Enugu State Chairman, Barr. Ken Ikeh, at a press conference.
They specifically called for the dissolution of state coordinatorship structures that duplicate or undermine the authority of recognised state chairmen, insisting that the party’s existing structures must remain central to its political mobilisation and electoral strategy.
The development signals growing concerns within the party’s South-East leadership over the proposed campaign council’s organisational arrangements, particularly the appointment of coordinators without what the chairmen consider adequate consultation with established party leaders.
In the communiqué, the state chairmen argued that parallel campaign structures could create conflicting lines of authority, fuel unnecessary rivalry and weaken the internal cohesion needed to prosecute an effective presidential campaign.
They maintained that the APM’s electoral prospects would be better served by strengthening its existing structures rather than introducing arrangements capable of displacing or diminishing the responsibilities of duly recognised state chairmen.
The leaders consequently appealed to Makinde and the party’s national leadership to review the coordinatorship arrangements and immediately dissolve any state structures found to be duplicating the authority of the recognised state executives.
They also demanded that campaign vehicles, branded equipment, publicity materials and other logistical resources intended for mobilisation in the South-East be released to the respective state chairmen for distribution and effective utilisation.
According to them, the recognised state leadership possesses the organisational capacity to deploy campaign resources strategically, transparently and in response to the political realities of individual states.
The chairmen further called on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, whom they identified as the party’s national leader, to intervene alongside Makinde in resolving the dispute before it undermines the party’s unity and organisational progress.
Despite their reservations over the campaign council, the South-East leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the APM and its proposed RESET NIGERIA AGENDA, while commending the National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Maman Dantalle, for his leadership and efforts to strengthen the party.
They praised Dantalle’s political sagacity, administrative competence and strategic vision, crediting his leadership with improving the party’s appeal and attracting prominent political figures.
The communiqué also welcomed the reported alignment of Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde with the APM’s political project, describing their participation as an opportunity to expand the party’s national appeal and strengthen its political structures.
The chairmen expressed support for Makinde’s presidential ambition as presented in the party’s political programme and pledged to work towards the success of the RESET NIGERIA AGENDA.
They equally endorsed the proposed town hall meetings across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, describing the initiative as an avenue for citizens to engage political leaders, express their concerns and contribute to policy formulation.
The South-East leaders said grassroots consultation would help communicate the party’s agenda across communities and promote participation beyond geographical, ethnic, social and political boundaries.
However, they cautioned against any attempt to organise regional town hall meetings through rented crowds, arguing that the South-East’s sociopolitical characteristics required genuine grassroots participation and credible community engagement.
“The South-East Nigeria is a region with peculiar sociopolitical nuances and republican economic attitudes which cannot allow the idea of renting crowd to organize the regional town hall meeting to succeed,” the communiqué stated.
The chairmen warned that if their grievances were not addressed immediately and satisfactorily, they might be compelled to reconsider their continued participation in the existing campaign arrangement and take further decisions in the collective political interest of their states and the South-East zone.
The communiqué was signed by Dcn. Victor Umunna, Abia State Chairman; Uzochukwu Eminent, Anambra State Chairman; Evang. Ohakam Kate, Ebonyi State Chairman; Barr. Ken Ikeh, Enugu State Chairman; and Hon. Clinton Edoziem, Imo State Chairman.
Their position places the management of internal party relations, the coordination of campaign activities and the distribution of campaign resources at the centre of efforts to consolidate the APM’s political structures ahead of the proposed presidential campaign.
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