The exit of Adams Oshiomole as National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC and emerging dynamics in the party which has led to the emergence of a new power bloc led by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and the end of the grip of Bola Tinubu on the party, the trickling effects on Imo state chapter of the party is quite complex.
The National Executive Committee, NEC, of the APC had adopted recommendations made by President Muhammadu Buhari, which among other things, dissolved the National Working Committee, NWC and appointed a caretaker committee led by Yobe State Governor, Mai Bala Buni, to oversee the affairs of the party and conduct a national convention in six months time.
This development has opened up fresh intrigues in Imo state chapter of the party where before Oshiomole’s sack, Governor Hope Uzodinma is in total control of the party in Imo State.
Media reports had severally claimed that Uzodinma, and other major players in Imo APC such as former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, are not on the same page since Uzodinma assumed office as Governor.
Uzodinma had allegedly shut out the trio from his government after they collectively celebrated the sack of Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP by the Supreme Court.
Governor Uzodinma is known to be a staunch ally of the suspended Oshiomole. The former National Chairman had installed for Uzodinma, a caretaker committee for Imo APC led by Marcellinus Nlemigbo.
With Oshiomole’s exit, a renewed battle for the soul of Imo APC is in the offing, as close observers argue that Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, a known staunch ally of Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, may be in pole position to grab the party structure in the state.
Media reports have been rife that Amaechi leads a powerful bloc within the APC which allegedly has President Buhari’s tacit support. There are speculations that based on unfolding developments in the party, Amaechi has displaced Tinubu by earning Buhari’s support for his (Amaechi’s) 2023 presidential ambition.
Senator Araraume is currently eying Okigwe senate seat and there are strong indications that he is most likely pick the party’s senatorial ticket considering the favourable political climate which now pervades the APC.
The camp of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, is also expected to make an audacious move to posses the soul of Imo APC. Okorocha’s camp was alleged to have backed Victor Giadom, factional National Chairman of the APC, who had stoked the political fire in the party that first consumed Oshiomole, later himself and eventually cleared the path for the coming of the Caretaker Committee.
An ally of Okorocha, Daniel Nwafor, is leading a faction of Imo APC and is in court challenging the legitimacy accorded the Nlemigbo led caretaker committee by the dissolved Oshiomole led National Working Committee, NWC.
Sources said with Oshiomole’s exit, Nwafor and co would advance their position strongly in a bid to take over the party structure in Imo.
However, this Okorocha’s group has to adhere to President Buhari’s directive that all litigations concerning the party that is in court should be withdrawn; else they risk branded non conformists in the party.
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