The last may not have been heard about the disturbing trends in the Imo State arm of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA over the list of authentic candidates expected to carry the party’s flag in next year’s general election.
In the last count, three persons, namely Capt Emma Ihenacho, Mr Okey Ezeh and Senator Sylvester Anyanwu are laying claim to the guber ticket based on the fact that their factional leadership is in charge of the state executive council of the party.
Another dimension was witnessed when the Peter Ezeobi led APGA state council handed down suspension order on Ezeh, his campaign DG, Nwokorie and few others over alleged anti-party activities even as the Prince Nwaka led faction has concluded arrangements to also sanction Capt Ihenacho, Ezeobi and their team.
Trumpeta reliable learnt that while the war rages, the onus lies on INEC to publish names of successful aspirants who emerged candidates of the primary through primary elections while each of the factions claim INEC has given their candidates forms to fill for submission to stand for election, only one person will stand to run the election slated for February 2015.
It is not yet Uhuru for any of the factions to rejoice for victory as INEC has the final say after a careful overview of the contending issues and court cases surrounding APGA in Imo state and Nigeria at large.
A chieftain of the party who pleaded anonymity disclosed that in spite of media campaigns and claims by the warring factions, INEC display of candidates for the various position will finally put to rest who is APGA flagbearer.
Apparently not disturbed by the intra party skirmishes rocking the party, Capt Ihenacho has continued to set the stage for his governorship campaign. Part of the process is the special National Convention of the party held in Awka yesterday as well as another grand rally to kick start his campaign for next year’s general election. The former Minister is expected to present to the public his running mate, a don Dr Promise Nwokorie who is from Ehime Mbano LGA of Okigwe zone and until the present dispensation a lecturer at Imo State University, Owerri.
Meanwhile, a group known as APGA National Youths Assembly, ANYA, has taken a swipe on Ezeobi for dishing to the media news of Okey Eze’s suspension. While claiming that the authentic APGA state Exco is led by the chairman Prince C.C Nwaka, the group averred that Ezeobi has no locus standi to suspend party members when he “is a strange fellow within the coherent and formidable APGA family in Imo state.
Ezeobi is being accused by the group of doing a hatchet job having openly identified with Capt Ihenacho.
