Abia APC stakeholders in oil producing communities rue

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in oil producing communities of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State has condemned a recent media attack against the member representing Abia State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Eruba Dimgba.

In the said publication, Dimgba was alleged to have diverted projects meant for Ukwa-West, an oil producing LGA, to non-oil-producing areas, particularly Bende Local Government Area.

In a communique issued after a stakeholders meeting of the APC in the area and read by a former commissioner of information in the state, Chief Don Ubani, the people condemned the media attack which, they said, was aimed solely at casting aspersions on the integrity and competence of Chief Dimgba.

Describing the publication as false, unwarranted, untenable, misleading, malicious, and unacceptable, the APC stakeholders said Dimgba’s integrity and competence was not in doubt and, therefore, lent their support to him.

The communique read in part, “In as much as we, the stakeholders of APC in Ukwa-West, will not like to join issues with individuals who feel disgruntled for reasons only known to them, it is important we make the following clarifications.

“APC stakeholders in Ukwa-West are unarguably loyal and committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and are putting every democratic measure in place to make sure his re-election will be achieved seamlessly.

“In the same vein, APC stakeholders in Ukwa-West are working assiduously to guarantee an overall electoral success of the party from top to bottom in the 2027 general election.

“APC stakeholders in Ukwa-West strongly believe that the present period calls for dedication of members to strategise on how best to win the forthcoming general election, and not to be distracted by selfish considerations of political appointments, even to statutory boards whose tenure is still running.

“In response to the allegation that projects meant for Ukwa-West are diverted to non-oil-producing areas, particularly Bende Local Government Area, as patriotic stakeholders of APC in Ukwa-West, which is the only oil-producing local government area in Abia State, we wish to state that we will not condone any act that shortchanges our people through diversion of projects meant for Ukwa-West to non-oil-producing areas, particularly Bende Local Government Area, but will not like to draw any conclusion without any verifiable evidence.

“The stakeholders wish to state that the man trying to sow this seed of division and distraction joined APC only towards the end of February, 2026 after he was induced to leave his former political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), that was completely insignificant in Ukwa-West, by the Member representing Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency in the 10th House of Representatives, Hon Chris Nkwonta”.

The stakeholders added that they were satisfied with relentless efforts by Chief Dimgba in attracting projects to Ukwa-West, in accordance with the quota of the state.

It emphasised that it was malicious and false for any person to allege that NDDC has not done well in installing solar street lights in communities in Ukwa-West Local Government Area.

While calling on all APC members in Ukwa-West to rally round Chief Dimgba who they described as the leader of the party in the local government area, the communique signed by over 50 people, expressed optimism that the Abia NDDC representative will attract more dividends of democracy to Ukwa-West.

They pledged to work assiduously for the success of the party in Abia State and beyond.