By Lanre Oloyede
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday intensified efforts to restore unity within its Anambra State chapter as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) convened a high-level stakeholders’ reconciliation meeting aimed at ending the protracted leadership crisis and repositioning the party for future electoral victories.
The peace initiative, spearheaded by the APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Dr. Benjamin Obi Nwoye, who chairs the National Fact-Finding and Reconciliation Committee, brought together party leaders, stakeholders and members at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with a unanimous resolve to rebuild the party through dialogue, reconciliation and internal cohesion.
Declaring the meeting open, Nwoye said the APC leadership was determined to restore confidence in the party and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We gather today not merely to discuss a dispute, but to heal a family; not merely to review a crisis, but to restore confidence; not merely to identify what went wrong, but to agree on what must now go right,” he said.
He explained that the committee was mandated by the National Working Committee to identify the root causes of the leadership crisis, reconcile aggrieved members and recommend practical measures that would ensure lasting peace and electoral readiness in Anambra State.
According to Nwoye, issues fueling the crisis include alleged removal of elected party officials, disputes arising from party primaries, litigation, candidate substitution and disciplinary actions taken without due process.
He stressed that while disagreements were inevitable in politics, they must never be allowed to weaken the party.
Nwoye further disclosed that the committee would recommend reforms to strengthen internal democracy, restore legitimate party structures, improve communication, encourage dialogue and reinforce party discipline.
He warned that while the APC remained committed to reconciliation, the national leadership would not hesitate to sanction members whose actions undermine party unity.
Also speaking, APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities, Tolu Bankole, urged party members to embrace reconciliation, saying the APC could not afford another cycle of internal divisions that would jeopardise its electoral prospects in Anambra.
“We cannot afford to repeat what happened in the last election. Let us embrace teamwork and support one another because only a united APC can deliver victory,” Bankole said.
In her remarks, APC National Woman Leader, Mary Alile Idele, described reconciliation as a strategic necessity rather than a sign of weakness, urging stakeholders to give peace a chance.
She said the committee was not constituted to apportion blame but to listen to all sides and recommend lasting solutions that would strengthen the party.
“This is not the time to fight. This is the time to pursue peace and work together. A house divided against itself cannot stand,” she said.
