Okorocha, Coalition differ on planned new congresses

From Angela Nkwo-Akpolu, Owerri

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has renewed his war with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Coalition group in the State, over who controls the party structure.

The National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Emma ibediro on Tuesday released dates for the conduct of fresh congrezsses in Imo State, from Ward, Loxcal Government to State levels, following the recent High Court declaration of the previous congresses that finally produced Hiulary Ekeh as the APC Chairman in the States.

Even as the Coalition group has appealed the High Court ruling, Governor Okorocha, following alleged directives from the APC National secretariat, while addressing party stalwarts in the State said he has been mandated to conduct fresh congresses for the APC in Imo.

Governor Okorocha had announced that fresh congresses will hold on July 20th, 21st, and 23rd for ward, local government, and state levels following the verdict by a Federal High Court that no congress held in Imo, adding that the national leadership of the APC approved the dates.

But the Coalition group has however debunked the claim, describing it as a wide goose chase by the Governor and his ally at the APC National secretariat.

Publicity Secretary of the APC in the State, Nwabueze Oguchenti, has said the Governor did not speak with authorization.

However, Oguchienti insisted that with the notice of appeal before the party’s leadership, nobody can fix new dates for an issue already in Court.

Oguchenti said “it is not possible because the Governor is on his own on the dates he announced for Wards, LGA and state congresses in Imo state. Apart from making himself the spokesperson of the party, he is also questioning Court processes by this his announcement. Let us not forget that the judgment which nullified the congresses in Imo was a Court of first instance. There is already an appeal notice and there is no way there would new dates for congresses in Imo APC until all the legal windows are exhausted”, the Publicity Secretary said.