The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend distanced itself from the adoption of Sen. Ken Nnamani by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State as the leader of the party in the South-East zone.

Okorocha had, solely, during a meeting held in Owerri, last week, adopted Sen. Nnamani as the leader of the APC in the South-East.

However, the Ebonyi APC which described the development as “a huge joke” added that it was intended not only to ridicule the status of the party in South-East zone, but also to cause unnecessary disaffection among members.

In statement issued in Abakaliki, the acting chairman of the party in the state, Nwachukwu Eze, said “For the avoidance of doubt, we state unequivocally that Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu remains the number one APC leader in Igboland. He did not only found the APC but has remained resolute in building on the gains of the merger that brought the party into existence.

“Senator Ken Nnamani, a leader in his own right, should be wary of the likes of Okorocha who seek to destroy him. In the first place, leaders are not appointed by fiat. It is common knowledge that leaders evolve over time where their qualities become glaring that they naturally ease into the leadership role,” he said.