Disturbed by the indifference approach of some members of the Imo State of House of Assembly to his new romance with the All Progressive Congress, APC, the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is said to have put the lawmakers under serious check.
Apart from having about 16 honourable members of the State Legislature from APGA platform which he used to gain power, a clique in the opposition PDP are reported to be strongly behind him despite party differences. The synergy and seeming rosy relationship between him and the lawmakers is said to be a by-product of the party affinity.
However, Okorocha’s cross-carpeting to APC has changed the tide with some of his acolytes in the House not showing enough interest in the APC.
Trumpeta learnt that most of the Members who came under APGA platform are pretending about their APC status by preferring to remain in APC and sharing APC sentiments with the Governor.
Most of the lawmakers of APGA extraction had not only failed to openly identify with the Governor in APC but are yet to officially and publicly declare for the new party. Except for the Governor’s representative and eye in the House, Ikechukwu Amuka, member representing Orlu, Mike Ndukaku, the Speaker, Ben Uwajumogu and his Deputy, Donatus Ozoemena, other APGA lawmakers are playing “hide and seek” game over their APC status. It was learnt that the APGA lawmakers are just “playing along” for time before they will make their positions known.
One of the members (names withheld) had told Trumpeta that “some of us are just playing along with the Governor in APC. We won’t join him in APC. For now, we shall be with him because of the synergy and the need to protect each other’s interest. At the end of the day, our positions shall be made public”.
The lack-luster approach of the State Lawmakers to APC matters manifested during the events leading to the just concluded Anambra Governorship election where some of them kept away and preferred not to participate.
This new disposition alarmed the Governor to set up a strategic committee in the House for purposes of monitoring members’ activities and where their party loyalty is tilting to.
It was gathered that the check became necessary in view of the increasing attacks from opposition ahead 2015 election.
Top Government House sources revealed that the Speaker, Uwajumogu and Deputy Ozoemena, as well as Amuka of Ideato South constitute the special “crack team” to monitor the lawmakers and their party lineage.
The “crack team” is expected to also monitor the conduct of PDP lawmakers who are sympathetic to Okorocha and are believed to be pseudo APC members.
