Stakeholders and leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Imo State, may have to wait longer, for another round of political rigmarole after the suspension of the local government and State Congress by the party’s CECPC.
The suspension of the LG and State Congress will temporarily compel party stakeholders and leaders to ceasefire after the ward congress held two weeks ago.
The National Secretary, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Commitee CECPC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, had said the outcome of the commitee’s report on the ward congress will determine when the party will fix the dates for local government and State Congress.
The APC had scheduled August 14, for the conduct of the local government Congress, while the State Congress was scheduled for September.
It was observed that the ward congress Appeal Commitee, initially billed to sit between August 2 to 7, did not commence proceedings five days behind schedule.
The ward congress in Imo APC was largely adjudged peaceful, but party leaders across the State, went beserk by exhibiting desperation to grab the party structure at the ward levels.
Despite Governor Hope Uzodimma’s call on party leaders to go about the ward congress devoid of rancour and acrimony, the opposite was the case, as they resorted to underhand tactics, to outwit the other.
In Ikeduru LGA, the State Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, was allegedly outplayed by some powerful political players such as Chief Charles Amadi (Chavon).
Vitalis Ajumbe, a former Commissioner in the State, alleged that Chavon “imported non APC members” to be part of the ward congress, as part of his desperation to take over the party structure to aid the House of Reps bid of his son.
In Ahiazu Mbaise, leaders were at loggerheads with each other, over the party structure. The lawmaker representing Ahiazu Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Otuibe was fingered in plot to hijack the party structure by manipulating the ward congress.
Across the 27 local governments in the State, there were reports of fisticuff among party leaders who were largely accused of lists writing.
The postponement of the LG and State Congress provides ample time for stakeholders in the party to restrategize ahead of the next exercise, which is expected to get more fierce.