A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Imo State, Hon. Ferdinand Ukagha, has revealed reasons why there is seeming endless crisis in the party.
Imo APC has been embroiled in crisis as legal fireworks orchestrated by two dominant factions continue to decimate the party in the State.
Battle for the soul of the party has been intense lately with the Dan Nwafor faction backed by former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, claiming to be the authentic leadership of the party on the grounds of a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
The Marcellinus Nlemigbo led state caretaker committee is backed by Governor Hope Uzodinma, and has challenged the judgment of the appellate court.
Speaking to INNONEWS in Owerri, Ukagha said former governor Rochas Okorocha’s alleged presidential ambition, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s senatorial bid to represent Okigwe zone in the senate, and Governor Hope Uzodinma’s second term, are cumulative factors fueling the present crisis in the party.
“The former governor’s presidential ambition, and the perceived intention of his son in law to aspire for the governorship of the state on the APC platform in 2024, are some of the reasons why his followers such as Dan Nwafor will not let go and will keep on sustaining the legal fireworks to get full hold of the party
“Naturally, state governors are leaders of the party in their various states. The former governor cannot be talking of the presidential race, when he does not have control of the party structure in his home state and since there is no working relationship with the governor, things are bound to fall apart between the duo.
“Senator Araraume who is in alliance with the former governor also needs a change of guard at the party to pursue his senatorial ambition” he said.
Recall Araraume was declared APC senatorial candidate for Okigwe zone by the Federal High Court, Owerri. The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to replace Frank Ibezim with the name of the Senator.
Ukagha said the ongoing legal fireworks in the party will continue to serve as an “instrument that will continously cause disharmony”
He sued for peace among party leaders in the state, stating that the “division between some party leaders such as Okorocha, Araraume and the state governor does not augur well for the party”
He advised the National Caretaker and Planning Convention Committee, led by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, to hasten the reconciliation process in the APC in Imo State by “fast tracking reconciliatory moves”
