The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, especially in Owerri zone is rife with discontent as Governor Hope Uzodimma’s recent commissioner appointments draw criticism and concern from some party stalwarts.
Amidst whispers of dissatisfaction,few party chieftains question the rationale behind the appointment choices and the perceived favoritism towards certain political leanings.
Uzodimma’s decision to retain a majority of his trusted allies and loyalists as commissioners has raised eyebrows within the party ranks.
Among the 16 commissioner nominees cleared by the Imo State House of Assembly, familiar names such as C.O.C Akaolisa, Ruby Emele, and Declan Emelumba stand out as beneficiaries of the governor’s patronage.
However, it is the apparent shift in alliance towards PDP defectors in Owerri zone that has sparked the most controversy.
Former House of Representatives members, Ikenna Elezianya and Bede Eke, who recently joined the APC, were swiftly rewarded with commissioner positions, along with Anselem Anyanwu, another PDP decampee.
This shift in allegiance has left core APC chieftains from Owerri zone feeling sidelined and marginalized.
Despite their longstanding loyalty to the party, they contend that they have been overlooked in favour of newfound allies, prompting murmurs of discontent and resentment.
Notably absent from the commissioner lineup are prominent APC figures from Owerri zone, with only a few exceptions, such as the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru, who was not a core APC chieftain even before she was nominated as the Governor’s Running Mate and Enyinnaya Onuegbu, who was retained as Head, Political Bureau.
This perceived imbalance has fueled frustration among party members, who feel their contributions and dedication have been overlooked in favour of political expediency.
A party chieftain, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed ambivalence towards the appointments, acknowledging disappointment at being sidelined.
He called attention to the disparity between Owerri and Orlu zones, where the latter received a major share of commissioner slots, predominantly filled by the governor’s loyalists.
He said ” This imbalance is uncalled for at this time when the administration needs all the political support across board to work for Imo people in the second term and finish up very well before the period of transition”
Despite the disenchantment, he raised hopes that Governor Uzodimma will address these grievances and rectify the perceived imbalance in future appointments.