The Governor Rochas Okorocha backed faction of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State has refuted claims by Senator Hope Uzodinma that the Imo intends to convert the APC in the State to his private property or family party.
Senator Uzodinma had in an interview at the weekend said Governor Okorocha had made attempts to pocket the APC in the State.
Imo APC is sharply polarized along two factions. One controlled by Okorocha and Daniel Nwafor who is the State Chairman and another faction called the “Allied Forces” headed by Chief Hilary Eke.
According to a statement by the party’s publicity secretary, Onwusoanya FCC Jones, he said such insinuations are malicious “not just to these revered leaders of our great party, but to the All Progressive Congress as a whole”
He said the Governor has never attempted to foist his wishes on the party or its members.
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Part of the statement reads “However, as a political Party, we recognize that those who have worked hard enough to sustain the Party and have remained loyal to the Constitution and guidelines of our great Party, must be encouraged and also rewarded as obtained all over the democratic world.
“The APC is owned by all those who have taken the step of registering with the Party at their various wards and have remained obedient to the Constitutional requirements expected of every member of the Party. Those who believe they can join the Party from the backyard or hijack the Party structure through criminal means, like, forging membership cards, etc, will not be admitted into the Party, as our Party upholds, discipline, decency, integrity, and other noble attributes expected of every responsible leader.
“We welcome Hope Uzodimma’s decision to declare his political intentions in the coming weeks, as that is within his right as a Nigerian” the statement stated