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The battle for who gets upper-hand in Imo State APC before the 2019 general election was between the dominant Rescue Mission political family and forces known in the party as the Coalition or Alliance.
When the last general election approached, some Chieftains of the party, aggrieved over plot by the former governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to make his Chief of Staff and son in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu successor, gave rise to political upheavals in the APC which saw majority of his aides reject the move.
In the process, the dissenting voices dumped the Rescue Mission political family to form the Coalition.
This group was led by the former Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, and propelled by the likes of Dr TOE Ekechi and Chief Jude Ejiogu, they formed a formidable barrier to the ambition of the former governor within the APC family. As the 2019 election approached, another die heard follower of Okorocha and former SSG, Sir George Eche called it quits alongside campaign council generalissimo of the Rescue Mission, Chief Charles Amadi who dumped the affinity with the former governor to join the Coalition in support of Uzodinma.
Trumpeta recalls that the insistence of Okorocha on Nwosu becoming his successor led to the breakup with the likes of APC Board of Trustee member, Chief Jasper Azuatalam.
Some of the Coalition members like Madumere, Ejiogu and Eche ran the APC governorship primaries with the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma. But at the emergence of Uzodinma, the trio dropped their ambitions and backed the interest of the APC governor.
This newspaper gathered that the partnership between the Coalition and Uzodinma led CampHope campaign organization further downsized the strength of Okorocha at ensuring his candidate who went to AA to the contest didn’t win the governorship election against Nwosu.
Trumpeta recalls that at a point in the struggle, Madumere, Ejiogu and Eche endorsed a communiqué that adopted Uzodinma as the preferred candidate for the APC for the 2018 governorship election.
At the emergence of Uzodinma through the Supreme Court verdict of January 14, 2020, the said leaders of the party joined the APC family to express happy over the outcome of the court process.
However, Trumpeta findings indicate that the aforementioned leaders appear not to be considered in the scheme of things if line of appointments made so far by Uzodinma is considered. It is not clearer if they have also be considered for patronage through contracts for government projects.
This newspaper noticed that aside from not been consulted on those to be appointed for political appointments in their localities, Uzodinma has always considered members of CampHope first.
It was also discovered that the affected leaders are not given due recognition and in most cases not invited for top government functions organized by the present administration.
Madumere from investigations was not instrumental to the retinue of aides Uzodinma has appointed from his Mbaitoli and neighboring Ikeduru LGAs, it was even learnt that one of the acolytes of the governor claimed Apex leadership of the Mbaitoli LGA against the former governor.
In Owerri North, Ejiogu a former SSG is said to be battling with lieutenants of Uzodinma over who should be the apex leader in the area while Ekechi and Eche sources disclosed are in the dark about appointments handed to Ngor Okpala people.
Despite his efforts, in the emergence of Uzodinma, Chief Charlvon Amadi is yet to get due attention he deserves in the administration he worked for same fate is suffered by his kinsman and former Speaker, Rt Hon Kelechi Nwagwu who was also a kingpin in the making of Uzodinma.
Others in this category are the former APC LGA chairmen for 27 councils as well as Chief Hilary Eke former APC state chairman who was of the Coalition.
