BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
The reported exit of Member of the House of the Representatives, Hon Chike Okafor, from the political camp of Senator Rochas Okorocha has raised dust within the camp of the former Governor.
Okafor had exited from Okorocha’s camp and pledged allegiance to Governor Hope Uzodimma, a move which sparked outrage in the camp of Senator Rochas Okorocha popularly called Rescue Mission.
Factional All Progressive Congress, APC Chairman in the state, Dan Nwafor had descended on the House of Reps member for his action, citing it as an act of betrayal, recalling how Okafor was brought into politics from Zenith Bank by Okorocha.
Okafor had served Okorocha as Commissioner for Finance and later won a House of Reps seat to represent Okigwe South Federal Constituency. He is presently serving a second term.
This newspaper gathered that Hon. Chike Okafor’s exit really caused a stir among followers of the former Governor who described Okafor as the biggest beneficiary of Okorocha’s eight year reign as Governor of Imo State
However, there are feelers that aside Okafor who has left Okorocha’s camp, there are a good number of Okorocha’s loyalists who benefited from him that are waiting for the appropriate time before they leap out of the group unless the political fortune of the group improves and the embattled Senator becomes a political force to reckon with.
A source told this newspaper that this category comprise those who want to aspire for one political office or the other in 2023 and at the moment are confused over their next political move.
“They are bidding their time and if Okorocha eventually lose out in the tug of war for the soul of the APC in Imo State, then they will either join the Governor’s camp, the way Chike did or they go elsewhere to further their political ambitions” a source who is privy to undercurrents in Okorocha’s camp told INNONEWS.
The source added “Those clustering around the former Governor at the moment, are House of Reps members, some members of the State House of Assembly who won re- election when Okorocha was governor.A handful of former Commissioners who served in his government. Even some of the House members are playing hide and seek with the Senator. They wine with him in the morning and dine with those in Uzodimma’s camp in the evening.
“What is holding them together at the moment, is the Phillip Umeadi matter at the Supreme Court, which they hope will swing in Uche Nwosu’s favour or remove Uzodimma from office. Once that matter is dusted, you will see strange political movements among Okorocha’s followers” the source concluded.
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