* Coalition Camp: We Are Not Aware*
*BY RALPH EJIMKONYE*
Following the drama that trailed the botched APC governorship primary in Imo State, there are fresh revelations that some governorship aspirants in the party may have pushed the option of a Consensus Candidate.
This is as feelers emerged that the Rochas Okorocha Camp had strongly clamoured for direct primaries after the Ahmed Gulak led Governorship Primary Election Committee failed to hold the guber primary in the State.
APC Imo State Publicity Secretary, FCC Onwusoanya Jones had announced that direct fresh primary election for Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly will hold tomorrow, October 5.
This was collaborated by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr.Sam Onwuemedo who had posted on this newspaper WhatsApp platform that members of the Coalition were rooting for a consensus Candidate.
He wrote “It is interesting to note that the elements in the Coalition who opted for direct primaries are today shying away from the same direct primaries. This deceit will soon evaporate. They are also clamouring for consensus. Obviously afraid of going to the field for the direct primary.
One of the governorship aspirants and an in law to Governor Okorocha, Engr.Chuks Ololo had at a press conference in Owerri opposed any form of Consensus as an option to a Direct Primary.
” The issue of Consensus is not in the APC Constitution. Let the best emerge through the process of electing candidates and I m willing to work for the party” he said
The State party chapter has also announced that nine governorship aspirants have been cleared to participate in the Governorship primary and also dispelled reports on the social media which claimed that there will be no primary.
Imo APC Publicity Secretary, Onwsoanya FCC Jones, stated that the primaries will hold on Friday in the 305 wards and “these elections shall be for the nomination of APC candidates for governorship, senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
Part of the statement reads “A special electoral panel set up by the NWC of our great Party is expected in the State later today.
“Members are urged to be at designated voting venues as approved by the State Working Committee of the Party.
“Accreditation of genuine and card carrying Party members shall commence at 9:am, while voting follows thereafter.
However, feelers from the Coalition camp had dissociated itself from the primary for Friday. The Coalition are made up of governorship aspirants opposed to Governor Rochas Okorocha’s choice of his son of in law as successor.
A statement signed by Hilary Eke and Clement Anozie, Chairman and Organizing Secretary of the APC loyal to the Coalition Camp, called on members of the party to disregard the announcement of primary taking place on Friday, 5th October, 2018.
Operating under the guise of Imo State All Progressive Congress stakeholders, the statement stated that the aspirants and stakeholders are not aware of such primary.
Part of the statement reads “In view of the foregoing, the news making the rounds that some group of unknown persons have arrived the State to re-conduct already held primary elections, especially the governorship primary election, to Imo APC Stakeholders is not only surprising but ridiculous. It is even more worrisome to note that the unknown persons in the guise of committee came into the State with Governor Okorocha.
“We hereby state categorically that we are never part of this fraud as the Aspirants, Stakeholders and the entire APC members were never notified of any re-scheduling, which ought to have been the first step should such ever be considered as option
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