By Thompson Agu,Abuja
Indications are rife that the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is at the verge of succumbing to the clamour by some chieftains of the party at both state and national levels for a harmonised list of State, LGA and Ward officials, Trumpeta reports.
It would be recalled that a top leader of the APC in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma had in a public statement gave hint of a possible harmonization policy being rooted by the party in Abuja as a means to end the troubles created in the Imo State chapter.
Imo APC has been engrossed with fictionalization as two major groups battle for the soul of the party. Apart from the faction controlled by Okorocha, there are the Coalition and pro Uzodinma groups angling for the leadership of the party.
As a way out, the leadership opted for harmonization policy, which Trumpeta learnt is not going down well with Okorocha.
But latest information reaching the newspaper from Abuja, has it that following the recent reported move of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and his supporters into APGA, the national office in a bid to frustrate the move has requested the Imo State Governor to accept the harmonization policy.
Apart from using it to lure Araraume back and keep him in the APC fold ahead 2019 election, the harmonization policy was part of the mutual agreement the party reached with Senator Uzodinma before he agreed to join APC.
It was further revealed that irrespective of the Board of Trustees position, the Senator representing Orlu zone was promised to control a structure in the party Exco at State, LGA and Ward levels.
A source, however informed Trumpeta that in view of the need to cater for the interest of the two APC Senators working for the party in the National Assembly, opening up the party structure to allow all stakeholders make an input necessitated the harmonization policy.
Though Okorocha was said to have vehemently objected and moved his supporters to Abuja to put up a defence to the policy, but the decision of the national body for the harmonization has come to stay.
Further revelations have it that the harmonization will also help to end the various court cases threatening the party at all levels in the State.
A top chieftain of the party who was cornered at the APC secretariat in Abuja, confirmed the development but failed to give further information. “I can confirm about the harmonization policy, but won’t say much on it for now” the source who preferred to be anonymous added.
Meanwhile, as part of the harmonization, Trumpeta was also informed that Okorocha will get the position for the chairman alongside other offices while other party chiefs will nominate others.
