BY RALPH EJIMKOMYE
With the dissolution of the executives of the All Progressive Congress, APC at all levels of the party by the National Executive Committee, NEC, this may have thrown open a fresh battle for the soul of the soul of the party in the State.
The National Executive Committee, NEC of the APC at a virtual meeting held at State House, Abuja, and presided by President Muhammadu Buhari, and attended by State Governors and party chieftains, dissolved party executives at the national, zonal, State, local government, ward and polling units levels.
It however extended the tenure of the Mai Mala Buni led National Caretaker Committee.
Analysts say the dissolution throws open a fresh war for the party structure in Imo State since Congresses to elect fresh officers of the party is imminent.
Imo APC has been fragmented for a long time.
Despite the party structure in the State in the pocket of Governor Hope Uzodinma, who is behind the State Caretaker Committee led by Marcel Nlemigbo, there is another faction led by Mr. Dan Nwafor and backed by former governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, laying claims to the leadership of the party on the strength of an order of the Court of Appeal,Abuja.
With the whistle blown to inject fresh blood in the party, via membership registration and revalidation ahead of the 2023 polls, the coming Congresses may offer a broad platform for the jostle of the party structure in the State by all contending forces in the party.
However with State Governors taking firmer grip of party structures in their various states, there are indications that of Imo APC may be different considering other forces in the party such as the Okorocha/Araraume group which will put in their all to have a slice of the party structure in the State.
Feelers however emerged that the Okorocha backed Nwafor faction will prepare for Congress and will also hang onto the Appeal Court judgement as a basis to continue to claim of the leadership of the party in the State.
A top level source in the party told INNONEWS “On the surface, the whistle has been blown for those who intend to take over the party structure to begin now to prepare. But 2023 permutations in the party show that State Governors will naturally take firm grip of the party structure in the States.
“In Imo State, I do not see any change or something different because Governor Uzodinma as leader of the party must take charge of the party structure via coming the Congresses in order to secure his political future in the State. For me, it’s a win win situation for the APC State Governors.
