2027: Tinubu can only defeat Obi in Anambra with structures, financiers –Nwoye, APC deputy chairman

• Party reads riot act to Anambra warring factions

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ben Nwoye, has said that the party would depend on structures, volunteers, agents, financiers, community ambassadors to win the 2027 presidential election in Anambra State against the son of the soil and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi.

Nwoye spoke during the reconciliation meeting between Anambra State APC stakeholders and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja yesterday. While appealing to the Anambra APC stakeholders and chieftains, Nwoye called for unity, stressing that only unity would guarantee APC the victory over the presidential candidates of other parties. “Our party bears the responsibility of supporting and explaining the mandate of President Tinubu and the Renewed Hope agenda. That responsibility cannot be discharged by a divided state chapter.

We cannot convincingly ask Nigerians to trust our national leadership while our local structures are consumed by avoidable conflict.

“We cannot mobilise for our presidential, National Assembly and State Assembly candidates if our leaders are speaking in contradictory voices. In unity and cohesive team spirit, we can deliver on the mandate of Mr. President and all our candidates. In unity, we can take the message of reform, growth, security, investment and national renewal to every ward in Anambra State.

“In unity, we can build a credible bridge between federal opportunities and local expectations. In unity, we can show Anambra voters that APC is not merely a platform for elections, but a vehicle for development, inclusion and progress,” he charged.

On the strategic approach for the election, he said: “Let us remember that candidates do not win alone. They win with structures. They win with volunteers. They win with agents. They win with financiers. They win with community ambassadors. They win with women who mobilise markets, youths who drive digital and physical campaigns, elders who command  respect and ward leaders, who know every polling unit. No one faction can provide all these alone. Only a united party can,” he said.

Reading the riot act, the national leadership of the party said: “A scattered broom cannot sweep; a divided party cannot win. Let me also make it clear, in the spirit of responsible leadership and party discipline, that reconciliation must not be mistaken for weakness. The national leadership of our great party will not hesitate to wield the big stick, going forward, against any recalcitrant member who persists in conduct capable of undermining party unity, frustrating lawful party decisions, or serving as an agent of opposition interests in Anambra State.

Peace requires open arms for sincere members, but it also requires firm consequences for those who deliberately sabotage the collective mission of the APC.

“The eyes of our members are upon us. The eyes of Anambra voters are upon us. The eyes of our national leadership are upon us. Posterity will ask whether, at this turning point, we chose anger or wisdom, division or unity, litigation or dialogue, factional pride or party victory. I believe we will choose wisely,” he warned.