Fireworks over the ward congresses in Imo State may not have abated as two key members of the opposing factions in Imo APC vent their spleen on each other in an interview conducted by Channels Television in Abuja on Wednesday morning.
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Hon Chike Okafor, a member of the House of Representatives and an ally of Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the APC and a key figure of the “ Allied Forces” in Imo APC, Jasper Azuatalam exchanged fireworks during the interview.
Hon Azuatalam stated the ward congresses took place in Imo State recalling events that transpired on congress day.
He said that the ward congresses took place as scheduled in the State as about 900 supervisors supervised the exercise at the ward levels. He also said a 7 man committee has released a report admitting that the ward congresses were held in Imo and that report has been backed up by the report of an Appeal Committee which authenticated that ward congresses actually held in the State.
He said the bone of contention in Imo APC is the resolve of Governor Rochas Okorocha to install his son in law as Governor of Imo State in 2019 which violates the zoning principle in the State. He recalled that Okorocha’s kinsman, Achike Udenwa had governed the State for eight years before Okorocha came on board, stating that the political divide in the party was as a result of the Governor’s plan to have his son in law as Governor, himself as Senator and a son of his as a member of the House of Assembly.
“ There is a political divide in Imo State caused by the Governor insisting to install himself as senator, his son in law as next governor, his son in the House of Assembly… His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere is on the opposite side of Rochas, as is Izunaso, as Araraume” he said.
In his response, House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon Chike Okafor gave a run down of events that occurred on the day of the ward congresses, insisting that the exercise never took place. He recalled that the National Organizing Secretary of the party had admitted that congress materials were not available on the day of the congress.
Okafor further explained that some persons close to one of the members of the Coalition members were arrested in by the Police in Abuja with the materials and the police investigation on the matter is still ongoing.
“Some people were arrested in Abuja with the same material we were looking for in Owerri” Okafor said
He said the Govenor’s son in a law, Uche Nwosu as a citizen of the country has the constitutional right to seek and aspire for any elective office in the land, alleging that those opposed the Governor in the APC in Imo State joined the party just to cause confusion and trouble .
Okafor said the APC BOT member is merely making allusions to some politicians who could not win in their wards, adding that the Governor’s son in law, Uche Nwosu have been adopted by 24 of the 27 LGAs.