The appointment of Obinna Ihedioha as an Executive Director of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has been met with huge resistance by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing in the South East.
The disgruntled youth who spoke after his appointment pointed out that Ihedioha’s appointment by the President is a disservice to loyal party members. They described his appointment as unfair and provocative.
Ihedioha, a known member of the newly-formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) and brother of former Imo State governor Emeka Ihedioha, would serve as Executive Director for People, Stakeholders and Communication at the NRS, representing the South East.
In a statement addressed to the media by the APC Igbo Youth Forum and signed by its National Coordinator, Chukwuemeka Chidi, the group accused the federal government of sidelining committed APC members who worked for the party during the 2023 general elections.
They claimed that Obinna Ihedioha has ties to the opposition parties and was alleged to have supported Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the last presidential election.
They also pointed to his association with the ADC as evidence that he does not belong to the ruling party structure in the South East.
They questioned how a person with such a political background could be trusted with a sensitive role in a national revenue agency that handles personnel and public communication.
According to them, placing him in charge of people management and stakeholder engagement raises concerns about loyalty and internal security within the system.
The statement said: “Putting a known opposition supporter in charge of managing people and handling communication at the Nigeria Revenue Service is very risky and harmful.
“The decision undermines loyalty within the party, discourages grassroots participation, and sends the wrong message to APC supporters who invested time, money and even risked their safety to help the party in the South East.”
The group accused political leaders of choosing appeasement over dedication and competence. They warned that such actions weaken party discipline and alienate supporters who stood by the APC despite intimidation and hostility during the election period.
They further threatened to stage protests in different parts of the country if the appointment is not reviewed.
Moreover, the youths insisted that the South East has many qualified APC members who deserve to occupy federal positions meant for the zone.
They urged President Tinubu to withdraw the appointment and replace it with a candidate who has a clear history of loyalty to the ruling party.
They also called on party leadership at the national level to intervene and protect the interests of APC supporters in the South East.