The war within the All Progressive Congress, APC, Imo State chapter is rather deepening than reducing as the various factions of the party in the State, who are now parading parallel State Executives battle over the Local Government election billed to take place in June.
According to information available to Trumpeta, while the State Executive which emerged through the APC congress this month and led by Dr Hilary Eke is against conducting LGA elections in the State, the other Executive appointed by Governor Rochas Okorocha and led by Mr Chris Oguoma is ready for the election.
Following this scenario, there is confusion within the Imo APC, as both the members and prospective Aspirants for the chairmanship and councillorship positions move from one end to the other, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, the State Executive faction led by Dr Hilary Eke, which claims to be the authentic APC Executive in Imo, through its Publicity Secretary Engr Nwabueze Oguchienti, put up a Press Release warning all Aspirants to deal with the Executive which emerged from the APC approved Congress, or else be ready to face the consequences.
In a Press Release captioned “Attempt to Defraud Party Faithful Through LGA Election And Suspension of Members” it warned that the Imo State Working Committee of APC “has noticed with concern, the illegality that is being perpetrated by some elements in the party after a successful congress in the State”.
The Press Release went on “All Aspirants to the proposed local government elections are advised in their own interest to deal ONLY with the Dr Hilary Eke led Executive Committee, which is the duly elected and recognized Exco of our great party in the State”.
The Release even mentioned the name and Account Number of Bank which the Aspirants should pay in money for their forms, said to be the APC only Bank Account.
The statement also suspended Mr Chris Oguoma, the appointed Imo APC chairman, Mr GA Asika and Mr Obioma Ireagwu.
The latest development, pundits predict, will not only heighten the crisis in Imo APC, but will also throw more confusion into the expected LGA polls billed for next month, dogged with litigations and internal wranglings.
Already, the Executive led by Hilary Eke had petitioned the APC National Working Committee over what it called various anti party activities of the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rocha Okorocha, which includes appointing a parallel State Executive of the party.
The petitioners cited Article 21D (11) of the APC Constitution as the areas Okorocha, Oguoma, Asika and Ireagwu erred.
Attempts to reach Oguoma failed as his phone rang repeatedly with reply.
