The three merging opposition political parties in Imo State such as the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) are to surrender fifty percent of the State Executive of the newly formed APC in Imo to Governor Rochas Okorocha’s APGA.
Trumpeta gathered that this measure is in line with the decision of the national leadership of the ANPP, ACN and CPC to cede 50% of the state executives of the APC to the party that produced the State Governor.
Based on this development, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s APGA is to produce the State Chairman of the APC in Imo State and other officers that will fill up key and relevant positions in the party in Imo.
The remaining 50% slot in the state executive of Imo APC will now be shared among the ACN, ANPP and.
It was uncertain if the position will go down well with the state leadership of the ANPP, ACN, and CPC in Imo State who have complained over the one-man show posture of the Imo Governor since the merger of opposition parties on the country gathered momentum.
However, the quest of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to drag the Imo State chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to his new political fortress, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has suffered a hitch as some stakeholders in the party in the State have uniamoulsy adopted Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi as its deputy national leader.
Okorocha has been having a political running battle with his Anambra State counterpart when he signaled his intention to join the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC). The political face off degenerated to the point both leaders almost exchanging physical combat at the 80th birthday ceremony of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme last year.
When the national leadership of APGA objected to his move, Okorocha said he is joining the merger of some opposition parties in the country with the Imo State chapter of APGA.
On this score, there has been love lost between the duo and this has become a huge factor that has widened the depth of political enormity amongst them. This has further polarised the party in the South East where the party controls two States, Imo and Anambra.
However, the recent posture of some leaders of Imo APGA who have insisted that Okorocha is on his own and will never be part of the merger may have negative political consequences for the Imo Governor whose strength in the APC formation at the national level is Imo APGA.
They have reinforced their posture when they issued a communiqué last week restating their undiluted loyalty to the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and some officers of the party and not to Okorocha.
A copy of the communiqué which was made available to Trumpeta and endorsed by Dr. Emeka Ukaegbu (State Chairman), Chief Austin Ibe (State Secretary) shortly a meeting of the expanded Executive committee of the party reads “ The Expanded Executive Committee meeting of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Imo State chapter, held on May 21, 2013 comprising the State Working Committee, the Local Government Area Chairmen, the ward Chairmen, their secretaries, Youth Leaders and Women Leaders after considerable deliberations unanimously resolved to reaffirm our commitment and unalloyed support for the following:
1. His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi as the Deputy National Leader of our Great Party.
2. Barr Maxi Okwu as the National Chairman and his Executive Committee.
3. Our illustrious Sons Chief Chris Uche as the Deputy National Chairman (South) Chief Peter Orji and Chief Barr Okoro as Board of trustee members.
4. Dr. Emeka Ukaegbu led State working Committee.
5. Local Government area Chairman, Ward Chairmen and their Executives.
