FCT Minister, Wike has handed PDP structure to APC for Tinubu’s re-election — Moluokwu

Despite facing a recent plot to unseat him by a few aggrieved members of his ward, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), City Centre Ward, Comrade Ebuka Moluokwu, has broken his silence, describing the move as the handiwork of desperate politicians who want to hijack the most strategic ward in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of 2027.

In this exclusive interview with Managing Editor, North, Abel Lazarus, Comrade Moluokwu speaks on the crisis, his relationship with the AMAC Chairman and the future of APC in City Centre Ward.

Excerpts:

Can you tell us how you emerged as Chairman?

My emergence was through the laid -down processes of the party. First, my eligibility – the Chairmanship position was zoned to the South after the office of the Councillor was zoned to the North. I went through all the congresses, from ward to local government, and I was voted in with a landslide victory by both stakeholders and members of the party. My mandate is legitimate and verifiable.

How is the APC City Centre Ward faring under you?

APC in the City Centre is doing wonderfully well. We are getting set for the kick-off of campaigns. At the ward level, we are already collating the list of canvassers, polling unit agents and campaign council members per polling unit for the general elections. The ward is alive and active.

How would you describe your relationship with your executives?

Very cordial. I mean, very cordial. I run an open-door policy and carry my exco along in all decisions.

So, where is this problem of some people trying to oust you coming from?

It is quite unfortunate. I will say it is a result of the politics of bitterness; if I can’t have it, no one should. The whole brouhaha emanated from the Ward Councillor, Hon. Ummul-Kalthum Olajumoke Yusuf, who has never hidden her displeasure over my emergence as Ward Chairman.

Even before my emergence, she confronted me and said she would never work with me. She has been pushing even against the party leadership, which tantamounts to rebellion. She is hell-bent on truncating my mandate.

She has gone as far as taking the matter to the National Secretariat with her cohorts, which is a sharp contrast to the party hierarchy. Politics is local, and I am sure the party will resist her move.

The evidence is there. The only form made available for the City Centre Ward was filled by my humble self and that signifies that I am the legitimate contender. I am aware that she and her group have been parading another list. But the Local Government and the FCT APC leadership are fully aware of my mandate.

Since your assumption as Chairman, have you called ward meetings?

Yes, we have had several ward meetings. We even extended our olive branch by inviting Hon. Ummul-Kalthum Olajumoke Yusuf to our meetings through every available medium – WhatsApp, SMS and telephone calls via the office of the Ward Secretary. But she has refused to attend, insisting that she is the only one qualified to call meetings, claiming leadership of the ward.

No individual is bigger than the party. The ward is moving on as an indivisible entity with the full cooperation of the exco and stakeholders.

What is your working relationship with the AMAC Chairman, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu?

Fantastic and very cordial. As far as Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu is concerned, City Centre Ward is safe and sound. His leadership qualities have immensely reflected on the ward. He is a father to all.

What are the tangible benefits the City Centre Ward has gained from the AMAC Chairman?

They are enormous. The current SSA on Revenue, the Supervisory Councillor for Education and Social Development, the SA on Taskforce, amongst others, are all members of the City Centre Ward. We are indeed grateful to Hon. Maikalangu.

He has further promised us more empowerment and appointments. But for the lack of funds currently due to repayment of the bailout for LEA teachers, activities seem slow. We are optimistic that once the bailout is substantially or fully paid, more dividends of democracy will flow to the City Centre Ward. We can only reward him with our unflinching loyalty.

Would you affirm that there are two factions of APC in FCT – one for Wike and the other for the old APC structure?

There is nothing like faction in the FCT APC. What we have is the collapsing of other party structures into the APC. That can be seen from the recent pronouncement of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, at a recent event, where he instructed the FCT People’s Democratic Party (PDP) structure to collapse into the APC to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. That is unity, not faction.

If INEC is to hold elections today, will City Centre Ward deliver?

Yes. By the grace of Almighty God and the support of our tireless working leaders, stakeholders, exco and entire membership of City Centre Ward, including the rainbow coalition, we will certainly deliver. APC will win the City Centre Ward.

You are from the South East. There is a narrative that Ndi-Igbo does not align with the APC. What do you say?

That was in the past. Today, APC is rooted in the South East. The governors of Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states are members of the APC. Even governors like those of Anambra and Abia, who are members of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party, respectively, are championing support for Mr President’s second term.

In FCT, the AMAC Presidential Coordinator is Chief Obi Nwosu Rex, an Igbo son. You may say so because the South East is presenting a candidate for the general election, and it is expected that some Easterners will support him – that is the beauty of democracy. But the truth remains that Ndi-Igbo has embraced APC, and the party is gaining more ground in the region.

If you are to meet with the President and the APC National Chairman today, what would be your request for the City Centre Ward?

Empowerment, empowerment, empowerment. I chose this because, since the formation of the party in 2014, there is a long list of members who have worked tirelessly for the victories the party has enjoyed, and they have yet to benefit. The empowerment I am referring to is a meaningful programme that will grow from a start-up into great deals. Empowerment in the form of jobs in MDAs and support for small businesses.

What would be your message to the aggrieved members of your ward?

Peace, love and unity. It is said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. My appeal to them is to come, let us embrace ourselves and work for the party, knowing fully well that power or position is transient. Yesterday was for someone, today is mine, and definitely tomorrow will be for another person. There is nothing to fight over. Rather, we should all come together and work for the victory of the party.