Igbo APC Chairmanship: Eze Uche Dimgba, Ekwilo Set For War

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The tussle for the Chairmanship of Igbo APC in Lagos State may have taken another dimension following the infighting going on among the faction belonging to the Apex leader, Chief Joe Igbokwe, over the appointment of Ezendigbo in Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba, as APC Chairman/Coordinator. 

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that since the declaration of the Lagos State APC Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Tunde Balogun, that Igbo traditional rulers should stay in their palaces as advisers to politicians and should not occupy any political position, there has been no peace among the group.

It was gathered that Chief Chris Ekwilo was expected to have taken the position as a core politician and Deputy to Chief Igbokwe, who was given appointment as SA for Drainages in Lagos State.

However, that did not happen due to the animosity between Igbokwe and Ekwilo over the political battle they reportedly fought in the past which lasted for three years.

It was gathered that Igbokwe swore that he will make Ekwilo politically irrelevant in Lagos State due to their bitter feud and since then, he has not forgiven Ekwilo despite the peace meeting brokered by Party leaders, hence the appointment of Eze Dimgba, which has backfired.

The dilemma in the camp of Joe Igbokwe is who replaces Dimgba should the group decide to obey the Party’s directive not to appoint traditional office holder into Party leadership in Lagos State.

It was gathered that Eze Uche Dimgba has even offered to resign as traditional office holder in order to act as Igbo APC Coordinator in the State.
But that seems not working because those sympathetic to Ekwilo are insisting that traditional rulers do not resign according to the Igbo tradition and if Dimgba tries such, he will go an exile, which means he will leave Lagos State.

Those in support of Ekwilo believe that he was not fairly treated and Joe Igbokwe should rescind his decision by removing Dimgba and replace him with Ekwilo but that may not happen because of the purported oath Igbokwe reportedly swore in anger during their fight.

Chief Chris Ekwilo wants his right restored but seems to be powerless to claim his right because he does not have the financial muscle to fight both Igbokwe and Dimgba, who have ensured that he is decimated politically in the State. 

In the camp of Hon. Jude Idimogu, who nominated Chief Anselm Njoku as replacement to Eze Dimgba, it seems many Igbo APC members have not fully accepted because they still see him as a PDP member due to his past records.