A Member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Friday attended Governor Rochas Okorocha’s 55th birthday celebration in Owerri.
However, signs that the Imo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress is badly cracked also manifested at the birthday celebration of the Imo State Governor.
Top chieftains of the party namely Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Senator Osita Izunaso, Senator Benjamin Uwajumuogu, senator representing Okigwe zone in the senate, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, Chief Festus Odimegwu, Hon Matthew Omegara and others were conspicuously absent at the Victory Chapel, Government House, Owerri where the birthday celebration was held.
The absence of the top APC leaders further justify concerns that most leaders of the party are not on the same page with the Imo State governor.
Media reports had it that Araraume and Okorocha may have parted ways politically after the senator indicated interest to take over from the Governor in 2019. The Senator has raised a formidable political network made up of aggrieved top APC leaders in the state who are said to be ready to join forces with him to wrestle power from Okorocha in 2019.
A former Commissioner of Information and Tourism in Okorocha’s government, Vitalis Ajumbe had dumped the Governor to pitch his political tenth with Araraume.
Another prominent leader of the APC in Imo State, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha had emerged a fierce critic of Okorocha alleging that he has plans to foist his son in law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu as his successor.
He had resigned from the State Development Council, accusing the governor of drifting towards nepotism.
Onyeagocha also accused him of deliberately suffocating the APC in Imo State in order to join another political party to actualize his plans.
RELATED STORY
https://innonews.com.ng/2017/05/26/why-imo-apc-is-divided/
