Reality Organisation Rejects Abia APC’s Reconciliation Strategy, Demands Sack of Chijioke-Led SWC

From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja

The Reality Organisation has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to immediately dissolve the Chijioke Chukwu-led State Working Committee (SWC) in Abia State, accusing the leadership of failing to provide the impartial and unifying direction required to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The organisation also rejected the recent decision by the Abia APC to withdraw its threat of disciplinary action against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and other party members, describing the move as a “face-saving exercise” rather than genuine reconciliation.

The Abia APC had, on Sunday, withdrawn its earlier ultimatum against Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, and the member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Chris Nkwonta, after neither lawmaker tendered the public apology demanded by the party within the stipulated 14-day period. The decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia where the party opted to put the dispute behind it and pursue reconciliation.

Reacting in a statement signed by Dimgba Okereke on Monday on behalf of Reality Organisation, the group said the development did not amount to reconciliation, arguing that the SWC had merely retreated from an untenable position after its ultimatum expired without compliance.

“What transpired at the so-called stakeholders’ meeting was neither reconciliation nor leadership. It was a confused retreat from an indefensible position that should never have been taken in the first place,” the organisation said.

According to the group, the Chukwu-led SWC could not “manufacture a crisis, publicly embarrass respected leaders of the party, issue threats and ultimatums, fail to substantiate the alleged offence, and then suddenly proclaim reconciliation when their ultimatum expires without compliance.”

‘Chijioke Chukwu Has Failed’
Reality Organisation maintained that the controversy surrounding Kalu was unnecessary, insisting that the senator committed no anti-party offence by expressing his assessment of the 2027 political contest during a television interview.

The group said Kalu was asked whether Governor Alex Otti could win re-election in 2027 and gave his assessment, while also denying that there was an alliance between the APC and the Labour Party governor.

“A prediction is not an endorsement. No amount of political sophistry can transform one into the other,” it stated.

The organisation argued that the subsequent withdrawal of the disciplinary threat had further strengthened its position that the original action was ill-conceived and politically motivated.

It accused the Abia APC chairman of lacking the political temperament, neutrality and leadership capacity required to unite the party’s competing tendencies.

“A State Chairman cannot administer a political party on impulse, selective outrage and narrow political calculations,” it said, stressing that party leadership requires fairness, consultation, maturity and sound judgement.

Chijioke-Led SWC’s Double Standards
Reality Organisation also accused the SWC of selective application of party discipline, questioning why similar political statements attributed to other APC members had not attracted comparable threats, ultimatums or disciplinary proceedings.

The group specifically referenced Senator Emma Nwaka, Rt. Hon. Christopher Enweremadu and Prof. ACB Agbazuere, while also questioning why comments attributed to Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, praising Governor Otti at an event in Umuahia did not attract similar action.

“Party discipline cannot become an instrument of political vendetta, selectively deployed against perceived opponents while allies and associates are conveniently shielded from scrutiny,” it said.

‘NWC Must Act’
The organisation therefore urged the APC NWC to intervene urgently and dissolve the present Abia SWC, arguing that the committee had demonstrated that it could not credibly manage the party’s internal divisions or prepare it for the 2027 elections.

“A party preparing to seriously challenge for power in 2027 cannot afford a leadership that manufactures crises in August and begins searching for reconciliation before the end of the same month,” the group said.

“That is not strategy. It is political confusion and an unmistakable failure of leadership.”

Reality Organisation said it would convene a major meeting in October to review the political situation in the Abia APC and determine what it described as the appropriate leadership direction for its members and supporters.

The organisation said the meeting would take “far-reaching decisions” on the leadership required to protect the interests of party members and provide an alternative direction for those who have lost confidence in the current SWC.

It declared that it had lost confidence in Chukwu’s leadership and would no longer support what it described as a leadership characterised by “partiality, inconsistency and an inability to unite the party.”

The group, however, stressed that its position should not be interpreted as opposition to the APC, maintaining that its loyalty remained with the party, its constitution and its members.

“The APC is not the personal property of Chijioke Chukwu or any individual, tendency or political bloc,” it said.

The controversy followed the August 10 decision of the Abia APC SWC to accuse Kalu and Nkwonta of conduct allegedly inimical to the party and contrary to Article 21.2(11) of the APC Constitution.

The SWC had issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding public apologies and warned that failure to comply would trigger the constitution of a disciplinary committee.

However, at Sunday’s stakeholders’ meeting, Chukwu said the party had listened to the affected leaders privately and concluded that their actions were not intended to destroy the party.

He said the leadership had opted to put the matter behind it in the interest of unity ahead of 2027.

A motion seeking to end the matter was moved by the APC candidate for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubuike, and seconded by Hon. Emmanuel Ndubisi, representing Bende South in the Abia State House of Assembly. The motion was adopted by voice vote.

Chukwu nevertheless clarified that the resolution did not prevent the party from reviewing other matters and that future breaches of the APC constitution would attract appropriate sanctions.

But for Reality Organisation, the development has only reinforced its demand for a change in the leadership of the Abia APC.

“Chijioke Chukwu had an opportunity to unite the Abia APC. He has failed. He had an opportunity to demonstrate impartiality. He has failed,” the organisation said.

It added that Abia APC members deserved leadership that “commands confidence rather than demands obedience; leadership that reconciles rather than humiliates; leadership that inspires rather than intimidates.”

“The National Working Committee must now act before the damage becomes irreversible,” Reality Organisation declared.