A press statement by Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, on Saturday in Owerri, confirmed that the Governor embarked on frenetic search for the materials meant for the APC ward congress which held yesterday.
There was stalemate in the congress as three factions conducted the primaries each claiming it was in charge.
The press release said that the materials especially the result sheets for the conduct of the APC ward congresses in the state had not been found by the time the statement was issued.
“The argument over who is in custody of the materials have been between the man originally posted to the State for the conduct of the congress, Chief Ini Okorie, and the National Organising Secretary of the Party, Chief Osita Izunaso”.
The press release added that “While Izunaso said he handed over the materials to Chief Okorie, the man himself said Chief Izunaso didn’t give him the materials.
“And yesterday evening when the police took Chief Okorie to the residence of Senator Izunaso to resolve the issue of who among them had the materials, the man disappeared in Izunaso’s house.
“The Governor has been appealing to the members of the party in the State to remain calm and avoid actions that could lead to fracas or loss of lives. He said he would not like any Imo man or woman to lose his or her life because of politics during his administration. He assured that the proper action will be taken”.
Three factions, one led by Okorocha, another by his deputy Prince Eze Madumere, and that of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume are in the struggle to control the party the same with new arrival Senator Hope Uzodinma.
Earlier on Saturday, Prince Madumere’s group were having a victory dance at the party secretariat. Thugs stopped the celebration.
Meanwhile a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Engineer Nwabueze Oguchienti, accused Okorocha of desperately attempting to hijack materials for the congress.
The statement claimed that Imo ward congress “was conducted and concluded successfully and peacefully on Saturday, May 5, 2018 in the 305 wards of the state”.
“The party salutes the commitment, passion, dedication and above all, the peaceful and diligent comportment of our party members during the congress. The party is also grateful to the maturity and candour of the ward congress committee who remained focused in spite of the desperate efforts of the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to hijack the committee through blackmail, intimidation and groundswell financial inducement”.
“By the outcome of the congress and the spontaneous outpouring of family love and conviviality, the party and their numerous supporters who had longed to breakaway from the stronghold of one man and his family have been vindicated.
