*BY CHIDI ABBAH*
The All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State has dismissed rumours that the scheduled May 5, 2018 ward congress has been called off due to security challenges.
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According to a statement by Nwabueze Oguchenti, State Publicity Secretary of the party, he said the Congress will hold as scheduled and adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure a hitch free congress.He said the ward congress will hold simultaneously across the centres in Imo State as earlier stated in the release issued by the National Organizing Secretary.
“Party members are hereby advised to ignore and disregard such baseless and unfounded rumour and participate actively, as it is targeted at raising false alarm to derail the congress in Imo” Oguchenti said
In a related development, Stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State yesterday visited the party’s National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
Reports of what transpired at the parley revealed that the party stakeholders appealed to the National Working Committee to aid them recover the party from the grip of “one man for the generality of the people.
Some of the stakeholders spoke on the situation in the party
Chief Okey Ikoro (Chairman, Imo APC Stakeholders Forum): “Imo State is a predominantly Catholic State and with recent actions of Governor. Okorocha and his aides that led to an unnecessary, avoidable altercation with Archbishop AJV Obinna of Catholic Diocese of Owerri, the party is now at daggers-drawn with the Catholic Community in particular and Christendom in general.
“Most actions of the governor are anti-people’ and retrogressive, especially demolition of government and private properties without palliative measures to cushion the effect of such actions on the people. Sadly, a man who is supposed to be leader of the party in the state has unfortunately, through his undemocratic approach, polarised the party in the state by the formation of ‘Ndi-Agburu Anyi’ – a code name for “members of our faction”.
“ I wish to inform you that Gov. Okorocha flagrant abuse and usurpation of powers of the Party Executives through arbitrary suspension and expulsion of party officers led to the formation of Imo APC Stakeholders as a tool to checkmate and correct these anomalies. I wish to assure you that if the party is given back to the people, we will deliver all elective positions in Imo State to the party in the forthcoming general elections”
Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, senator representing Okigwe zone pleaded with the National Working Committee to act promptly to redeem the image of the party by handing back the party to the people.
He expressed doubts about the Governor’s ability to deliver the state to APC in the forth-coming general elections when he is at war with the creme de la creme of APC in Imo State who are determinedly opposed to his leadership style.
Sir Jude Ejiogu, former Secretary to Government of Imo State was quoted to have said “”Having served in various strategic positions in the Governor. Okorocha led administration, I am in a vintage position to tell you that what we have as a government in Imo State is nothing but a sham driven by greed and familiocracy. After reviewing his actions, we have decided to bring to your notice the actions of the governor that may mar our chances in subsequent elections if not properly checked. I implore you to give back our party to us”.
Chief Ohamara (Leader, G-16, a group of LGA party Chairmen) : “As your foot soldiers in our Local Governments, we wish to inform you that policies and programs of the Governor which have caused untold hardship to rural dwellers in the state have pitched the party against the people.
“Sir, we wish to use this premise to report that without due recourse to the Constitution of the party, Gov. Okorocha has caused visible division in the party through the unconstitutional suspension and removal of some LGA Chairmen who are opposed to his high-handedness. Worse still, due to his inability to take responsibility as the governor and leader of the party, we sought for help from notable leaders in the state which we got especially for rent and furnishing of local government party offices. Our cry for help to these Imo APC leader’s annoyed Governor. Okorocha and he ordered 16 local Government Chairmen to leave his presence at wee hours of 1:45am.
“We wish to tell you that on daily basis, many Ward and local government Chairmen are leaving him to join us,and as we speak, three more Local Government Chairmen have declared their intention to join us. We wish to inform you that Gov. Okorocha has lost grip of followers in the party and any attempt to strengthen Gov. Okorocha’s position in APC will spell doom to the party in the forthcoming general elections”.
Roll Call Of Those Who Attended The Meeting.
1. H/E Prince Eze Madumere – Deputy Governor of Imo State.
2. Sen. Benjamin Uwajumogu – Secretary, 2018 APC National Convention Committee.
3. Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume
4. Sen. Osita Izunaso – National Organizing Secretary of APC.
5. Sir Jude Ejiogu
6. Hon. Mrs Tina Adike – Deputy National Woman Leader APC.
7. Rt. Hon. Emeka Nwajuba – Chairman TetFund.
8. Air Commodore Peter Gbujie (rtd)
9. Dr. Uzoma Obiyo
10. Chief Okey Ikoro
11. Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo (Marcon).
12. Chief Cosmas Maduba
13. Rt. Hon. Ernest Ibejiakor – (Nwa-Ndaa).
14. Hon. Chief Longers Anyanwu.
15. Rt. Hon. Kelechi Kennedy Nwagwu
16. Dr. TOE Ekechi
17. High Chief Zik Martins Nnadozie
18. Chief Kingsley Okafor
19. Sir Peter Nnabuife
20. Dr. Chris Nwaike
21. Chief (Hon.) E.C Igbojekwe
22. Nze Elvis Agukwe.
23. Rt. Hon. Donatus Ozoemena
24. Hon. Gibson Njemanze
25. Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe
26. Chief Felix Idiga (Jafac).
27. Hon. Mrs Chigozie C. Ihekire
28. Prince Ford Ozumba
29. Prince Maxwell Phillips Igwe
30. High Chief Val Okere
31. Dr. Mrs Carol Amadi
32. Engr. (Chief) Benny Nnabue
33. Chief Amara Iwuanyanwu
34. Hon. Stanley Nzekwe
35. Barr. Emma Nwosu.
36. Ichie Best Mbanaso
37. Hon. Mrs Ada Egbufor
38. Barr. Robert Okwuego
39. Hon. Mrs Ndidi Njoku
40. Chief Joe Nwokem
41. Dr. Charles Onuoha
42. Hon. Mrs Sabina Anukam
43. Chief Tony Asomugha
44. Rt. Hon. Chidi Nwogu
45. Hon. Mrs Florence Ohalete
46. Engr. Chime Nzeribe
47. Hon. Chief Alan B. Onyemechi
48. Dr. Louis Nonye Obodo
49. Barr. Tony Odirichukwu
50. Hon. CC Ubah
51. Chief Ejike Chukwu
52. Hon. Chief Okey Igwe
53. Hon. Mrs Nma Nzeribe Michaels
54. Chief Igwekala Ugomaduefule
55. Hon. Casmir Ohamara – Oguta LGA Chairman
56. Barr. T. U Asoegwu – Oru West LGA Chairman
57. Chief Isaac Onuekwusi – Ikeduru LGA Chairman
58. Chief Bernard Nwanana – Oru East LGA Chairman
59. Hon. Okey Azuonwu – Ngor Okpala LGA Chairman
61. Engr. Stanley Onwukwe – Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA Chairman
62. Hon. Lawrence Osuagwu – Obowo LGA Chairman
63. Hon. Lucky Uche – Okigwe LGA Chairman
64. Mr. Julius Asagwara – Isiala Mbano LGA Chairman
65. Hon. Uche Igwe – Onuimo LGA Chairman
66. Chief Pat Ofoegbu – Orlu LGA Chairman
67. Rev. (Hon.) Emmanuel Ebomuche – Ohaji/Egbema LGA Chairman
68. Nze Alex Ohanwe – Owerri Municipal LGA Chairman
69. Hon. Friday Obasi – Ihitte/Uboma LGA Chairman
70. Chief Innocent Egbe – Ehime Mbano LGA Chairman
71. Chief Johnbest Udeye – Ideato North LGA Chairman, and,
72. Barr. Kingsley Ononuju – Secretary of Imo APC Stakeholders Forum.