The endorsement reportedly took place on February 28, 2025, during a state road flag-off event in Umunneochi Local Government Area, which is the minister’s home LGA.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief William Nwanguma, has petitioned the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, calling for sanctions against the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, over alleged anti-party activities.

In the petition, Nwanguma accused one of President Bola Tinubu’s ministers Onyejeocha of publicly endorsing the re-election bid of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who is a member of the Labour Party (LP).

The endorsement reportedly took place on February 28, 2025, during a state road flag-off event in Umunneochi Local Government Area, which is the minister’s home LGA.

According to the APC chieftain, Onyejeocha urged traditional rulers and residents of Umunneochi to support Governor Otti for a second term.

He described her remarks as a betrayal of the APC, emphasising that such actions by a sitting minister, who was both elected and appointed under the party’s platform, could harm the party’s chances in future elections.

“The conduct and utterances of the Honorable Minister, if not condemned and sanctioned by the Party, will have adverse consequences in the 2027 general elections,” Nwanguma wrote.

He added, “It will paint a picture of a state chapter that is not interested in winning local and national elections and engender hatred, contempt, ridicule, and disrepute for our party.”

Nwanguma further claimed that the APC in Abia is rapidly growing, with opposition party members defecting in an effort to unseat Governor Otti.

He accused the governor of factionalising the Labour Party and alleged that Onyejeocha’s support for him undermines the APC’s efforts to reclaim the state in 2027.

The petitioner urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to investigate the matter and impose appropriate sanctions if the allegations are found to be true.