*BY BEN UGWU*
The Allied forces, a fiery political camp in the Imo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC appears to have gained a foothold in the party by dominating the local government congresses today. The Allied Forces is a combination of political heavyweights in the party made up of governorship hopefuls such Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Senator Osita Izunaso, Sir Jude Ejiogu, Hon. Jasper Azuatalam and many others.
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Reports received by this newspaper showed that Okorocha’s camp kept away from the exercise, just as men of the Nigeria Police Force took over the State Secretariat of the party located at Imo State university junction.
Details of the local Government Chairmen that emerged from the exercise were scanty as at press time but it was confirmed that all of them belong to the camp of the Allied Forces.
Governor Okorocha whose loyalists stayed away from the exercise in a statement said a new date for the ward and local government congresses will be announced.
“The ward and local Government congresses of the party must hold and in open fields and not in hotels, so that people can test their popularity. Action speaks louder than words. Those who think they are popular could not have stolen result sheets and would not have gone into hotels to write non-existent results” a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo stated
This newspaper observed that the Local Government congresses took place in the open as seen in several photos posted on the social media on the exercise. The Congress Commitee assigned with the task of conducting the exercise in Imo State was led by Barr Gabriel Tsenye who alongside Deputy Chairman of Imo APC, Nzekwe Ugochukwu supervised the distribution of materials to the 27 Local Governments in the State.
Okorocha,Imo Lawmakers To Visit Oyegun.
There are strong indications that members of the Imo State House of Assembly are to visit the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun in Abuja on the ward and Local Government congresses in the State. There was no verification of this move coming on the heels of a press conference by the Speaker, Rt Hon Acho Ihim who called for outright cancellation of the ward congresses.
The lawmakers who have been embroiled in fresh row over allegations bordering on an alleged impeachment move against the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere were said to have concluded plans to meet with the National Chairman on the controversial congresses.
APC Vow To Denounce Parallel Congress.
The National Working Committee, NWC of the APC said it will not recognize any parallel Congress as it will only accept results conducted by its Congress Committees in accordance with its Constitution.
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party said ” The party’s position is that there is no such thing as parallel congress. The only Congress recognized by the party is that conducted in accordance with the party Constitution, which was organized by the Congress Commitee charged by the party to organize such congress”
” We therefore regard any so called parallel congresses as exercise in futility and attempt to cause confusion in the party.
Bolaji however maintained that any registered member of the APC knows ” where and how” to channels grievances as appeal panel are in place. He made references to such exercise during the ward congresses in Borno, Ondo, Kogi, Enugu and Kano States
