The verdict of the Federal High Court Owerri which nullified Congresses in Imo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has led to wild jubilation in the camp of Governor Rochas Okorocha just as the Imo APC Restoration Coalition chieftains remain confident.
Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court Owerri had quashed the congresses ordering for fresh ones, a ruling which gave relief to political followers of Governor Okorocha today.
Since the national convention of the party ended in Abuja, it has been a win win situation for Okorocha and his
followers who had one of their own, Emma Ibediro elected as National Organizing Secretary of the party displacing a top notch of the Coalition, Senator Osita Izunaso from the post.
But Coalition who upstaged the Imo Governor at the congresses in the State remain confident that despite the ruling of the Federal High Court, they still remain in charge of the situation.
Though an official statement is being awaited from the coalition, members of the Coalition said they still remain optimistic on the grounds that the status quo remains until an Appeal Court dispense justice on the matter.
This newspaper was informed that the Coalition may go for an appeal to quash the ruling of the Federal High Court. This has not been confirmed as at the time of filing this report.
With party primaries likely to come up between August and September 2018 based on guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, if an Appeal Court fails to render justice in the matter, the status quo may remain as the present executives at all levels in the party may be the ones to cast their votes at the primaries.
A top member of the coalition who spoke on condition of anonymity added that if in the event the Appeallate Court upholds the ruling of the Federal High Court, an ally of the Coalition in the person of the State Chairman, Hilary Eke will remain as Chairman of Imo APC with some members of Okorocha’s rescue mission who were part of the Executives before the congresses .
But pro Rescue Mission followers said the Federal High Court was explicit in it’s ruling by ordering a fresh congress which may be acted upon by the National Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress, APC led by Comrade Adams Oshiomole who was in attendance at the South East mega rally in Owerri organized by the State Governor.
