Even as the party has not commenced operations in Imo State, there are strong indications that an early crack in All Progressives Congress, APC family will herald the birth of the party in the state.
These impending skirmishes emerged on Wednesday during the lowering of ACN flag to mark the end of the party’s existence in the state and arrival of APC.
At the eventful ceremony marked at the Owerri – PortHarcourt road office of the dying ACN, former Governor Achike Udenwa thundered to prominent ACN stalwarts moving into APC not to express fear in the merger as nobody would hijack the APC structure.
According to Udenwa, party members should disregard any rumour and insinuations that the party structures have been hijacked in Imo state when nobody has been made a leader at any level adding that the party has only interim management committees at the national and state levels charged with registration and congress responsibilities.
“Please disregard rumours that they have allocated positions. If that is done without our knowledge, it will be re-allocated. If any one does anything unconstitutional or anything we did not set down to agree on, we will upturn it” Udenwa added.
However, the assertion of the former Governor is in contrast to the believe that the incumbent Imo Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been handed APC structure and the leadership of the party in the state.
Following the comradeship Okorocha enjoys with APC-oriented Governors who have been instrumental to the formation of APC merger via meetings of the affected Governors of the merging parties, the State Governor is said to be the incharge as the undisputed state leader against Udenwa’s claims.
It was this vintage advantage that made Okorocha to nominate his Man-Friday and associate, Senator Osita Izunaso to the office of the National Organizing Secretary of the new party. It was in the same vein as leader of the party that Okorocha also made DPP man, Romanus Izuawuba Egbuladike “Sir White” the coordinating Chairman of the merger exercise for APC in the state.
It would be recalled that notable APC Chieftains in the state in some of the party’s meetings at the Government House, Owerri, expressed misgivings over the manner the State Governor dictated APC proceedings in the State. Such posture forced the likes Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) to voice out against decision to make Egbuladike the coordinating Chairman.
Udenwa’s fresh outburst and reassurances to his ACN faction and followers may instigate schisms in the fold when the battle for the soul of APC in Imo begins.
Speaking at the event, Udenwa stated that the event was beyond the lowering and hoisting of flag as it signifies growth from one phase to another in ACN political history.
