A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) says the party would soon inaugurate a new Board of Trustees (BoT) that would be charged with completing the on-going restructuring of the party.

Deputy National Secretary of APGA, Chief Dickson Ogu, disclosed this during an interview in Umuahia, capital of Abia State. He expressed optimism that a formidable APGA would emerge from the restructuring exercise before March this year.

“We are hoping that this restructuring will end as soon as possible. We are expecting that we will soon be in Abuja to inaugurate our new BOT as stipulated by the APGA constitution and trust the BoT members with the responsibility of bringing the restructuring to an end by putting in place other executive structures of the party hierarchy. I am promising you that before March, you will see a new APGA,” Ogu said.

According to him, APGA stakeholders last month passed a resolution endorsing completion of total restructuring of the party by next month.

The Deputy National Secretary said it was in line with the restructuring that the National Chairman, Chief Victor Umueh, and National Secretary, Alhaji Shinfafi, were suspended by APGA’s National Working Committee (NWC) party when it was discovered that they have overstayed in office.

According to him, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, spearheaded APGA’s restructuring struggle last July when he wrote to NWC, expressing dissatisfaction with what he met on ground and advocated democratisation of the party.

He said Governor Peter Obi later joined in demanding for restructuring of the party after the two APGA governors in the South East had met under the aegis of APGA Governors’ Forum and jointly wrote to NWC, demanding for restructuring of the party executive at all levels.

Ogu said that the essence of restructuring was to democratise the party, stressing that those opposed to the move were undemocratic and selfish.

He expressed hope that APGA at the national and state levels would emerge from the restructuring stronger, adding that the state chapter would be on a good footing to participate in the council polls expected to hold this year.

Ogu who also organised a New Year get-together for APGA members in Abia enjoined all party faithful to remain solidly behind the party and support the restructuring exercise.