Despite keeping away from the APC membership and revalidation exercise, Ward and Local Government Congress, the duo of former Governor of Imo State, now Senator, Rochas Okorocha, and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, have changed strategy, as they seem poised to have a share in the State Executive of the APC in the State via the forthcoming State Congress of the party.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, Okorocha and Araraume, have been entangled in a fierce battle, drawing swords over who takes charge of the APC in Imo State.
While the national leadership of the party is disposed to have State governors take charge of the party structure in States APC do have governors, INNONEWS was informed that this resolution may change based on prevailing circumstances in the party, which if not resolved, could be injurious to the party ahead of its national convention and 2023 general elections.
The APC is enmeshed in deep crisis in 23 states which arose after the ward and LGA Congress, including Imo State, and the bone of contention, has been attributed to the exclusion by state governors of past governors and other stakeholders from the party structure.
A source at the APC national secretariat told this newspaper that the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Commitee CECPC, has been invaded by complaints and petitions mainly from party leaders, including Imo, lamenting total exclusion from the party by state governors even before the congress had kicked off.
This is said to have made top leaders of the party including the presidency to fear of mass desertation of the party by some of its strategic stakeholders including founding members.
A source noted that based on this development, the CECPC was directed to ensure “key chiefs” of the party do not leave. And in a swift reaction, the Buni led CECPC set up the Senator Adamu Abdullahi led Reconciliation Commitee, to explore options of resolving the impasse in various State chapters.
In Imo State,the intra party crisis seems to be taking a new dimension.
Okorocha’s insistence that his ally, Dan Nwafor be recognized as the State Chairman of the party, based on a court order, is begining to fade away, as the ex governor and his ally, Senator Araraume are said to be pushing for a stake or share in the State party Exco at the October 16 State congress.
How this request goes with Governor Hope Uzodimma, is yet to be deciphered as the governor has maintained firm grip of the party at the ward and local government levels in the State.
“They cannot be stakeholders in the APC and they are sidelined as if they do not exist or have a stake.
“How can a serving Senator, three members of the House of Representatives, Senator Araraume, who is now NNPC Board Chairman, from the state be completely sidelined from the party structure they all belong to” said a former lawmaker loyal to the ex governor who spoke on condition of anonymity.