Baring last minute changes, the All Progressive Congress reconciliation panel headed by a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be in Imo State next month.
Tinubu was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile all aggrieved party members and stakeholders across the Federation. His appointment had led to mixed reactions across the country with many party chieftains questioning his choice to lead such reconciliation moves on the basis that he is one of the most aggrieved APC leaders.
However, the former Lagos State Governor has gone ahead with the presidential direction by embarking on the reconciliation move by visiting some APC troubled States. He had accused the party’s national chairman, John Odigie Oyegun of undermining his efforts. Oyegun in a letter denied the allegations and pledged his support to the panel.
The itinerary of Tinubu’s Reconciliation panel is not known but this newspaper was informed that Imo State may hve been listed as one of the States the APC national leader will visit to preach the gospel of peace.
Tinubu had visited Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha last month where he joined Okorocha to go to Oko, Anambra State for the funeral of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme. Sources told this newspaper said the cat and mouse political relationship between Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume may be top priority of the panel.
Okorocha had advocated for “Mock Primaries” to elect party flagbearers in the party in the State . This did not go down well with other party stakeholders who said it is not in tandem with the APC Constitution. A Group called APC Stakeholders kicked against the move.
“There’s no section of APC Constitution that supports or made provision for Mock Primaries. In the Nigeria Electoral Act that was passed by National Assembly for purposes of elections and electioneering campaigns, there is no section of it that supports the purported Mock Primaries which Gov. Okorocha wants to embark upon” statement signed by Agunwa Nzeribe on behalf of APC stakeholders stated.
Okorocha’s intention to have his son in law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu on the APC governorship ticket and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s governorship ambition is tearing the APC apart in Imo State. Since February 2018, Okorocha’s preferred choice for 2019 governorship Mr.Uche Nwosu had received endorsements for his governorship bid from some Local Government chapters of the party. This has been opposed by other contestants for the governorship such as a former Secretary to Government of Imo State and a governorship aspirant in the party, Sir Jude Ejiogu.
Last year, 16 local Government Chairmen of the party reportedly switched their allegiance to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume thus further polarizing the party in the State.
