There was stalemate in Imo state All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday as three factions of the party struggled to take charge of the ward congresses. The three factions were led respectively by Governor Rochas Okorocha, his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and new arrival, Senator Hope Uzodimma, in the struggle to grab the soul of the party in the state.
A press statement by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, on Saturday in Owerri, confi rmed that the governor embarked on frenetic search for the materials meant for the APC ward congresses. The press release said that the materials, especially the result sheets for the conduct of the APC ward congresses in the state, had not been found by the time the statement was issued. “The argument over who is in custody of the materials has been between the man originally posted to the state for the conduct of the congress, Chief Ini Okorie, and the National Organising Secretary of the party, Chief Osita Izunaso.
” The press release added that, “While Izunaso said he handed over the materials to Chief Okorie, the man himself said Chief Izunaso didn’t give him the materials. “And yesterday (Saturday) evening when the police took Chief Okorie to the residence of Senator Izunaso to resolve the issue of who among them had the materials, the man disappeared in Izunaso’s house. “The governor has been appealing to the members of the party in the state to remain calm and avoid actions that could lead to fracas or loss of lives. He said he would not like any Imo man or woman to lose his or her life because of politics during his administration.
He assured that the proper action will be taken.” Earlier on Saturday, Prince Madumere’s group were having a victory dance at the party secretariat. Th ugs stopped the celebration. Meanwhile, another statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Engineer Nwabueze Oguchienti, accused Okorocha of desperately attempting to hijack materials for the congress.
