The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has dismissed allegations of anti-party activities levelled against her by an Abia All Progressives Congress chieftain, Chief William Nwanguma.
The minister questioned the motives behind the petition, insisting that her remarks at a recent event were taken out of context.
Nwanguma, on February 3, 2025, petitioned the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, accusing Onyejeocha of endorsing Governor Alex Otti’s re-election in Abia State, despite his affiliation with the Labour Party.
The minister, however, said governance transcended party lines and that acknowledging good governance should not be misconstrued as disloyalty.
At a press conference held on Tuesday in Umuahia, Nwanguma alleged that “On Friday, the 28th day of February 2025, at a road flag-off event at Umunneochi LG of Abia State, which the minister attended, she expressed her support for the re-election of Governor Alex Otti for a second term.”
He also quoted the minister calling on traditional rulers and the people of Umunneochi to support and work for the governor’s second term in office.
May I, as a concerned stakeholder of Abia State chapter of our great party, the APC, bring to your esteemed attention and knowledge the anti-party activity of the Minister of State, Labour and Employment and former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
The Governor of Abia State is not a member of the APC.
The call for his re-election support by a former Deputy Chief Whip of the 9th House of Representatives and a serving member of the Federal Executive Council—both positions attained under our party’s platform—constitutes an act of anti-party activity.
This conduct has embarrassed me and other well-meaning members of the party in the state and across the nation,” Nwanguma said in the petition to Ganduje.
He added, “Your Excellency, Abia State APC remains the fastest growing state chapter of our great party as the majority of opposition parties have collapsed under it to unseat the governor in the face of his non-performance and personalisation of governance.
“Included in this plot are the main members of the Labour Party who are not happy with the governor.
“It is therefore sad, disheartening, inglorious, and wickedly for the minister to not only harbour such a thought but also express the same against a party that the state executive, leaders, stakeholders and members are working hard to bring to winning ways,” he stated.
The APC chieftain asked Ganduje to look into the matter and hand down appropriate sanctions if the party found merit in the petition.
Speaking with The KUKURUKU, the state APC Chairman, Kingsley Ononogbu, said the party in the state was not aware of the petition.
He regretted that in the party, everyone had become a lord in their constituency, assuming responsibility and power upon their shoulders.
Onyejeocha queried the interest of the petitioner, who is not from Umunneochi, but from Ukwa East.
She stated that the governor completed a 12km road of which she had already completed about 8km in her ward.
Onyejeocha said, “So if they invite me, I should not come? Did they not hear when I said Otti should deliver the President in 2027? Why not come to my ward and suspend me.
