*As Names of National Assembly Candidates Surface*
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has opened up on his political rift with some top chieftains of the APC in the State.
This is coming on the heels of reports that surfaced online revealing National Assembly candidates of the party which has been in turmoil it held two controversial primaries in less than one month.
Okorocha, according to the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo recalled how degoratory names were inflicted on him.
He demanded for an apology recalling how he was called “Okorochausa”and “Alhaji in Government House”.
Part of the statement reads “The All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo state which Governor Rochas Okorocha is the leader will never allow those who called him “Okoro-Hausa” and “Alhaji in Government House” and who branded APC Boko Haram party and harassed members of the party with armed personnel in 2015, to make any valid claim in the party unless they first apologize to the governor and APC members in the State.
“Some of these elements including Chief Hope Uzodinma who want to be governor today on the platform of APC and their cohorts in PDP gave Governor Okorocha all sorts of derogatory and inciteful names during the 2015 election.
“They did all they could to ensure that Imo people and indeed, Ndi-Igbo in general reject APC and President Muhammadu Buhari at the poll.
They called the governor, “Okoro-Hausa” and “Alhaji in Government House” and called APC Boko Haram Party. They harassed members of the party and even said that the chapel the governor built in the Government House was a mosque. They also said that the governor was taking young Igbos to the North to be Islamized. There was nothing on earth they didn’t say.
“On the election days, they flooded the state with solders and other security personnel. They even barricaded the governor’s house at Ideato South with two amoured vehicles with not less than one hundred solders and even held students of Rochas Foundation College who came for a programme, hostage.
“These people who claim now to be members of APC should not, as a matter of fact have any valid claim to make in the same party they never wanted to exist. If Imo people had listened to them and rejected APC and President Buhari then, they would not have had any APC to join today and begin to make claims they never deserved in all ramifications”
He claimed APC won the 2015 elections in the APC without their input.
The Statement is coming on the heels of reports that National Assembly Candidates of the party in the State have emerged. Official confirmation from the national leadership is however awaited
From the list, Candidates from the rival camps in Imo APC made the cut with Okorocha reportedly picking the Orlu Senate ticket.
The Okigwe Senate ticket was conceded to Senator Benjamin Uwajumuogu under the automatic ticket window provided by the party for serving National Assembly members of the party.
Prof Nnamdi Obiareri of Okorocha’s Rescue Mission camp lost out.
The APC in Imo has been in turbulence since congresses were held. Two camps are highly operative in the party. One led by a group of politicians called the “Coalition” and the other “Rescue Mission camp” led by the Governor.
The turbulence in the party led to the conduct of two primaries which was marred in controversy.
Okorocha’s son in law and former Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu is up against Senator Hope Uzodinma for the governorship ticket of the party.
The matter is in court just as an Abuja Federal High Court had ordered the APC to recognize the Senator as the governorship candidate of the party.
More drama is awaited in the party as the Nov 2 INEC deadline for submission of names of candidates by political parties draws near.
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