.Candidates Who Won Primaries May Be Disqualified Over Disrespect To Rule of Law On Party Exco Leadership
Except there is a permanent resolution to settle the differences rocking Imo State chapter of APC over who controls the State, LGA and Ward excos in the State, aspirants willing to use the party’s platform to run for elective positions in 2023 election may be in for trouble as the “Zamfara outcome” after the 2019 election will be their take.
Imo APC has been in trouble since 2018, the National Working Committee led by Adams Oshiomole sacked the elected exco under Dan Nwafor and brought in Prince Marcon Nlemigbo team that birthed the present Macdonald Ebere state working committee.
Similar to what happened to Zamfara APC members in 2019 election where court ruled that the party had no candidates for governorship and other offices it produced ticket winners after, APC in Imo may go same way. The outcome of the court decision gave the opposing PDP candidates who came second chance to be declared winners of the governorship, Senate, House of Reps and House of Assembly positions.
Trumpeta learnt that what gave rise to court rubbishing Zamfara APC with a “no candidate” order was that it did not allow the legally recognized party executive organize the primaries. Rather, one of the factions not recognized illegally imposed candidates the state chapter recognized by the national body conducted the primaries which the court ruled null and void stating that the party had no candidates..
This newspaper can state that a replica of what transpired in Zamfara is about to occur in Imo with the Macdonald Ebere led Exco backed by the present administration in Imo wielding more powers and having hold of the state exco as against that of Nwafor. Should the Ebere Exco run the party primaries without court order quashing the Nwafor team, the party in Imo is heading to trouble.
Trumpeta recalls that after the Nwafor exco was sacked by Oshiomole, the removed exco went to court and secured order against their removal which the national and state party are yet to obey. Even at the appeal court stages, this newspaper learnt that there was no change to the refusal of the party allowing Nwafor retake hold of the party in place of Nlemigbo.
With the conduct of the congresses that produced Ward, LGA and State officials without recourse to the Nwafor group and no competent court upturning the earlier victories, aspirants running for elective positions through the Ebere led team for next year’s election may be running a huge risk of having their nomination disqualified and sent packing like the Zamfara APC candidates of the 2019 election. The Nwafor Exco, enjoying support from Okorocha has ignored the claims of the new Ebere team by insisting. It remains the state party exco since no court affirmation has removed them in office.
