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Tag: Imo APC

  • Imo: Nwosu, Ihedioha, Uzodinma in epic battle

    Candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) Uche Nwosu; People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Emeka Ihedioha; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Ifeanyi Araraume; All Progressives Congress (APC) Hope Uzodinma and Accord Party Ikedi Ohakim are all in final push for votes ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

    They have devised different means of winning the support of the electorate, which include taking their campaigns to markets, schools, churches and other worship centres to canvass for votes.

    Many have also been engaged in acts of philanthropy, which include paying bills of stranded patients in hospitals.

    One peculiar feature that distinguishes the Imo State governorship election is that apart from Nwosu, the other four leading contenders are assumedly in the ‘departure hall’ of their political careers.

    To that extent, none of them is taking chances or leaving any stone unturned in the election that has been predicted to be the fiercest contest in the political history of the state.

    Results from the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections have shown that the main contest is between Nwosu (AA) and the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, as both showed firm grip in their respective zones.

    While Nwosu is riding on the support of the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha and the youths, Ihedioha, who is from Owerri zone, is enjoying the sympathy of people of the zone who are clamouring for power shift.

    Meanwhile, Araraume, Uzodinma and Ohakim could not establish any control in their supposed strongholds, as shown by the results.

    HOW THE CANDIDATES STAND

    NWOSU- the former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor is actually the candidate to beat in the election. With a massive support base among the youths and women across the state and the power of incumbency, Nwosu stands a better chance of winning the governorship election on March 9.

    One other factor going for the AA candidate is the revolution among the youths, who are determined to topple the old politicians who have remained in power for too long, using him (Nwosu) as the rallying point.

    Another factor that may swing the polls in his favour is the governor’s victory at the Imo West Senatorial election, which has reconciled some of those that left the camp during the primary elections.

    UZODINMA- the major hurdle confronting the APC candidate is the internal crisis in his party. The manner he emerged the governorship candidate at the expense of the governor’s choice, left the APC in tethers. Just a fourth night ago, the APC Chairman in the state, Daniel Nwafor, during a press conference, said that the party does not have any candidate for the governorship election.

    Even though he enjoys the support of the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, the APC candidate, as the result of the last election confirmed, is not in charge in his zone, as two AA candidates and one APC candidate loyal to Okorocha’s camp won in three out of the four Federal Constituencies in Orlu zone, while PDP clinched the fourth constituency.

    However, President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory is likely to buoy the APC candidate’s chances at the election, as politicians are already flocking around him as a channel to penetrate the President.

    IHEDIOHA- Based on statistics available from the results of the last election, the PDP candidate has strong control in his Owerri zone, especially in the three Local Government Areas of Ezinihitte, Aboh Mbaise and Ahiazu, referred to as ‘Mbaise Nation’.

    Recall that in 2015 governorship election, Ihedioha was able to force the election to a rerun with votes from the three LGAs, which were the only Council Areas he won, out of the 27 Council Areas of the state.

    At the just concluded National Assembly election, PDP cleared the Federal Constituency seats and the Senatorial seat in Imo East (Owerri Zone).

    However, the PDP candidate has one major challenge to contend with, the disunity and discrimination among politicians from Owerri zone and the historical rivalry between indigenes of Mbaise and other parts of Owerri zone.

    It is an established fact that an average Owerri man would rather support an Orlu man to be governor, than vote for an Mbaise man.

    OHAKIM- The results of February 23 elections, showed that the former governor and candidate of Accord Party, has completely lost in the power play in his Okigwe Zone.

    It was so bad that during the last election, voting could not take place in his Osu Owerre Ward 1 in Isiala Mbano Council Area, as a result of the absence of INEC officials and voting materials.

    The outcome of the last election also showed that no Accord Party candidate got close to third position in the National Assembly election results and this will largely determine the former governor’s performance in the election.

  • Breaking: Gunmen assassinate Imo APC chairman

    Gunmen have assassinated chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Logara/Umuohiagu Ward in Ngor Okpala Council Area of Imo state, Ifeanyi Ozoemena.

    He was murdered on Tuesday night shortly after presiding over a meeting of the party in the ward.

    The development sparked off fear in the state ahead of Saturday’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly election.

    The suspected hired assassins were said to have murdered him in his house right before his family members.

    A community leader, Chief Martin Opara, who confirmed the killing to our correspondent, said the community had been thrown into panic and mourning.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct two saw millers

    According to him, the community had never witnessed such political killing, urging security agencies to fish out the killers of the APC chieftain without any delay.

    Opara said the Eze-in-Council in conjunction with the community’s town union had met and sent a delegation to Divisional Police Officer requesting masterminds of the dastardly act should be arrested without any hesitation.

    He said: “This killing is strange to our community. Report says that he was shot severally in his house until he died.

    “We have met with the Eze-in-council and have sent a delegation to the DPO requesting that the killers should be arrested immediately.

    “Logara community is known for peace and we won’t jeopardise peace among us.

    “The deceased finished hosting a meeting of APC members in his ward after which gunmen operating in a jeep came and requested to see him. On sighting him, they shot him severally before they left.”

    Commissioner of Police Dasuki Galadanchi confirmed the killing to our correspondent in a telephone conversation.

    He said the police have evacuated the corpse.

    According to the CP, the gunmen who killed the APC chieftain operated in an SUV jeep.

  • Okorocha missing as Imo APC guber campaign kicks off

     

    • Oshiomhole accuse Imo Gov of anti-party

    The governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) kicked off on Friday in Owerri with Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha conspicuously missing.

    But the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole led other national officers of the party to the event.

    Members of the State Executive Committee of the party were also absent at the scantily attended ceremony.

    The usual crowd that attends APC gatherings in the state was missing as only supporters of the governorship candidate, Hope Uzodinma, gathered at his Campaign Headquarters along Okigwe road where the event held.

    Oshiomhole, who has been in a running battle with the Imo governor, accused him (Okorocha) of frustrating the APC candidate, an action he described as anti-party.

    He stated by denying the APC candidate use of the stadium, the governor has shown he is working against the party.

    But the Okorocha swiftly described claim he locked the stadium as false.

    Oshiomole said the stadium was built with tax payers’ money and not Okorocha’s personal fund, recalling how Okorocha cried out in 2011 when the then governor, Ikedi Ohakim, stopped him from using the stadium for his campaign.

    Oshiomhole also accused the governor of neglecting the people of the state with his style of governance.

    He said: “Let me appreciate the members of the National Working Committee for coming to join the governorship candidate of our party, we approach with one simple message.

    “It is a message of Hope, not a message of lamentation. I want you to listen because for me campaign is not about entertainment.

    “Today, we have come to deliver the message of Hope although things have gone wrong in the past.

    “We have come to return the government of Imo state to the great people of Imo state.

    Read Also: Dickson proposes N275.8bn budget for 2019

    “We have come to tell you that we have respect for you people.  The next governor in the person of Senator Hope Uzodimma will restore all that have been destroyed.

    “Please Imo people cool temper. Today is a day to pass a message of Hope. Today we desire to talk to the young people especially to my fellow colleagues the civil servants.

    “The days are gone for a governor who will look at people and say there is money to do other things and not to pay civil servants”.

    He went on: “I want to tell you that those governors that were given money including the governor of Imo state that did not use it for that purpose will be retrieved.

    “Buhari has adopted Hope Uzodimma as the governor of Imo state. I want you to go and tell people what I said.

    “Nigeria needs to produce political leaders that have political concentration.

    “How will you believe that an APC governor will lock the stadium against an APC, governorship candidate?

    “It is the tax payers’ money that is used to build that stadium and not his personal money”.

     

     

  • Imo APC gets caretaker committee

    A 27-man caretaker committee has been raised to oversee affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State.

    National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, who inaugurated the committee yesterday, said the executive committee was dissolved to instil discipline in the party.

    He added that the party’s national leadership was determined to build strong platforms. Oshiomhole said the lesson to be learnt from what happened in Imo and Ogun states, as regarding the last primaries, was that no one should play God or try to corner things to himself alone.

    “In politics, there is need for inclusiveness in handling issues in a democratic setting. We want to build strong institutions and not strong individuals,” he said.

    According to Oshiomhole, the committee’s assignment is to ensure the success of Senator Hope Uzodinma’s governorship campaign launch on Friday.

    The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved the party executives in Imo and Ogun states following public threats by Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha to campaign against its candidates.

    Oshiomhole added that he would be in Imo today to kick off Uzodinma’s campaign.

    Committee Chairman Marcelinous Nlemigbo thanked the NWC for finding them worthy of the job, and promised that the committee would work to achieve its purpose.

  • Why we dissolved Imo, Ogun APC excos, by Oshiomhole

    The needs to instill discipline informed the dissolution of the state Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo and Ogun States, National chairman of the party Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said on Wednesday evening.

    He spoke at the inauguration of a 27-man caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party.

    Oshiomhole said the decision to devolve the executive committees was to build powerful institutions as against indiduals.

    He added the new national leadership of APC was determined to build strong platform that will not be at the mercy of powerful individuals.

    Oshiomhole said that the lesson to be learnt from what happened in Imo and Ogun states with regard to the last primary elections was that no one should play God or try to corner things to himself alone.

    “In politics, there is need for inclusiveness in handling issues in the democratic setting. We want to build strong institutions and not strong individuals,” he said.

    Oshiomhole told the caretaker committee that their major assignment will be to work hard to ensure the success of the APC’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

    The party’s National Working Committee had dissolved the party executives at all levels in Imo and Ogun states following public threats by Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha to campaign against APC candidates during the election.

    Oshiomhole also said he will be in Imo state on Thursday to flag off the governorship campaign of Uzodinma.

    He charged members of the committee to close ranks with Uzodinma and other candidates of the party by mobilising supporters across the state to ensure it’s victory in the 2019 poll.

    Oshiomhole said the APC was much more preoccupied with building strong institutions than powerful individuals whose tenure remained ephemeral.

    He urged members of the committee to take a cue from the party’s philosophy of negotiation and inclusiveness in its dealings with supporters of the party in Imo state.

    Chairman of the committee, Marcelinous Nlemigbo, who expressed gratitude to the Oshiomhole- led national working committee (NWC) over the constitution of the body assured they would put in place efforts aimed at reconciling aggrieved members of the party.

    He also promised to work closely with the top echelon of the party to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 poll.

     

  • Fears over Imo APC as Okorocha, Uzodinma fight dirty

    Supporters of All Progressives Congress in Imo State are expressing concern over the likely effects of the current battle between Governor Rochas Okorocha and the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    FOLLOWING current irreconcilable differences between Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and the All Progressives Congress Governorship Candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, there are grave concerns that their bitter battles may endanger the fortunes of the ruling party in the 2019 elections.

    There is also the fear that the current secret moves by some aggrieved stakeholders in the APC power game may be designed to mature at a time it would ultimately harm the party. This fear is informed by revelations that some APC stakeholders that lost out may have resolved on plan B arrangements which they want to hold as a secret until the last minute.

    The SDP/ADC options

    One of the issues that occasioned the recent tension in the state, according to Dr. Vincent Nwulu, an APC chieftain is the news that Okorocha’s supporters, who are bent on ensuring the emergence of Uche Nwosu as the next governor of the state, have allegedly renewed their talks with some political parties to field the out-going governor’s choice. A top politician and known supporter of Okorocha, who prayed not to be named, confided that supporters of Ugwumba, convinced that the national leadership of APC have not been fair on their preferred candidate, “will not fold their hands and watch the select elements from Abuja, deny us of the right successor of Owelle Rochas Okorocha. We are making the right efforts to ensure that Ugwumba contests the governorship, even if it has to be outside the APC platform.”

    Nwulu alleged that “certain elements, through the connivance of selfish leaders in Abuja, have come to hijack the party we labored so hard to build in Imo; to reap where they did not sow. If they succeed in taking the party platform, our candidate will use another credible platform to win the election. That is all I can say for now.”

    Although the likely platform Governor Okorocha’s supporters may choose has not been declared publicly as at Friday, insiders said the ongoing negotiations in the camp suggest that they may settle for either the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or African Democratic Congress (ADC). The two parties have, within the last three months garnered momentum within the state in preparation for the 2019 governorship election.

    It would be recalled that the romance between some Imo APC chieftains and SDP for the purposes of winning 2019 elections dates back to August this year, when the power game in APC ahead the 2019 governorship election was still at the nursery stage. At that time, a group of aggrieved members of the party, under the aegis of Good Governance Forum (GGF), reportedly met with the state leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to discuss the possibility of defecting to the party.

    The Publicity Secretary of SDP in the state, Godsent Chilos, who disclosed this preliminary move in a statement, added that the aggrieved leaders of GGF confided that given “the events unfolding in Imo APC, it will be very difficult for the party to win elections in Imo State come 2019.”

    “Our attraction to SDP is as a result of the grassroots strength of SDP; SDP’s commitment to restructuring of Nigeria and operation of Open Government when elected to power, adherence to the principles of internal democracy, harmonious co-existence and respect to the democratic rights of members.

    “We think that SDP is the only party in Imo State that has brighter chances of winning the governorship of Imo State, including majority in the State House of Assembly in 2019, because APC and PDP has failed imolites,” Chilos had quoted the leaders of GGF as saying then.

    Since then, the party has been described as the plan ‘B’ for the APC governorship and other aspirants, eager to win the ticket.

    That status was in a way confirmed further in October, when some aggrieved APC and APGA aspirants actually defected to SDP in the state.

    Since the national leadership of APC finally submitted the name of Uzodinma, thus leaving Okorocha’s favourite aspirant, Nwosu, in the cold, there are hints that the governor may have given his nod for Nwosu’s henchemen to move over to SDP to prepare grounds even as the battle in APC continue to rage on. This calculation has been strengthened by Chilos’ recent revelation that one Okorocha’s disciple, a governorship aspirant has really commenced serious negotiations with SDP in the state.

    Chilos raised the speculation that Nwosu, Okorocha’s Son-in-law, may go for SDP’s flag when he said of the APC’s governorship aspirant negotiating with SDP: “He is one of governor Okorocha’s ardent supporter; he is presently having talks with us.”

    As would be expected, this development has elicited fear that the governorship candidate of the party in the state may be persuaded to drop the governorship ticket for the powerful APC aspirant. Although SDP chieftains in the state had consistently debunked the insinuations that their candidate is standing in for a particular APC aspirant, the speculation and the resultant permutations have refused to die down.

    Even before speculation that SDP may be the fallback party, there was the allegation as far back as June this year that Okorocha had, at the beginning of the crisis in his political family, identified African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the likely ‘plan B platform.’ This allegation was followed with the rumour that the governor had secretly joined ADC.

    The rumour became so wide spread that the Southeast Zonal Secretary of ADC, Mr. Nkem Ukandu, early in June came out and told newsmen that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has not joined the party.

    Even with that formal denial, some observers insist that ADC remains part of the likely cards that may be played in the intriguing power game in Imo APC.

    Endless war of words

    Perhaps to confirm their resolve to fight until the Election Day, Governor Okorocha and Senator Uzodinma have since November continued to exchange hot words against each other even as concerned party supporters plead for peace in order not to jeopardize the fortunes of APC in the forthcoming elections.

    It all began when Uzodinma was quoted as saying the governor underestimated his (Uzodinma’s) popularity. Responding through a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha alleged that Uzodinma was “burdened by at least two criminal cases, besides standing on a wealth of unknown means, including issuance of dud cheques.”

    As he puts it, “Chief Uzodinma should face his two most recent criminal charges over the issuance of Dud Cheque and non-declaration of assets. We won’t talk about other similar cases. “Chief Hope Uzodinma is not a member of APC in Imo State. His purported membership of the party was announced in Abuja. He has never attended any APC meeting either in his ward or in his local government, Oru-East, or at the state level. “That is why no APC member in the state was excited when the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, announced him as his preferred governorship candidate of the party in the state. “Since Chief Uzodinma has begun to throw stone not considering the fact that he lives in a badly constructed glass house, we challenge him to publish his profile for the public to see and let Rochas also publish his own. Rochas Okorocha was born in Ogboko, and he grew up in Jos. He attended St. Joseph Primary School, Barkin Ladi Jos, and Juladaco High School Jos. He has LLB and LLM of the University of Jos, Post  Graduate Diploma in Management, of the Benue State University,” the statement said.

    In his defence, Uzodinma said Okorocha made reference to a non-existent cheque.

    The Director of Media and Special Duties of Senator Hope Uzodimma Campaign Organisation, Mr. Declan Emelumba, said “Imo State government is referring to a non-existent dud cheque issue and phony assets declaration matter. Imo State Government has only confirmed an open secret which is that they are behind the two baseless issues. “We know that it was Imo State Government that sponsored the jankara Abuja magistrate judgement over a matter between two corporate citizens which a magistrate court has no jurisdiction just to smear the Senator’s intimidating image.

    “They are also behind the baseless assets declaration issue to achieve the same goal. But on each they failed woefully “Is Imo State government now the state, LGA and ward secretariat of APC? This only goes to confirm that Okorocha and his cohorts believe that Imo State and APC are their personal estates. “They are still dreaming and I think they should continue to wallow in their dreams,” Uzodinma said.

    The Uzodinma’s Campaign Organisation also challenged Okorocha, “to tell us the year Okorocha got the so-called LLB and LLM from the University of Jos so that we can expose their falsehood. “We don’t know what they are implying by talking about certificates but if its to imply that Okorocha is better educated than anybody then they must be told the bitter truth which is that he is not in a position to talk about certificate.”

    Earlier, Okorocha was quoted as alleging that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, “will never win governorship election.”

    Also speaking through Onwuemeodo, Okorocha stated that “there was jubilation within the opposition parties in the state when Senator Hope Uzodinma was named the candidate of the APC in the state because of how unpopular he (Uzodinma) was.”

    Explaining why Uzodinma cannot win the governorship election, Onwuemeodo, quoted the governor as saying, “In 2011, he took the Senate seat for Orlu Zone from Chief Osita Izunaso, through the court. In 2015, Nigerians knew what transpired in Imo.

    “The state was invaded with armed security personnel by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders like Uzodinma and the rest is history. So, Uzodinma can never win election in Imo, in a free and fair election.

    “And that is why the PDP and APGA members are those celebrating his Kleg governorship candidature for Imo APC.

    “If Uzodinma was to be a known member of the party, there would have been celebration in Imo.

    “The chieftains of the party in Abuja, who are backing him, are elite politicians, who have no relationship with the grassroots,” he said.

    If Okorocha is unsparing, Uzodinma has equally been so.

    He had alleged that it was aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party that “manipulated Governor Rochas Okorocha into power in 2011.”

    He also alleged that Okorocha did never won an election, adding that the governor “has underestimated how unpopular he has become in the state.”

    In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Special Duties, Declan Emelumba, Uzodinma said, “Okorocha has run for many elections, including the governorship of Imo State, before 2011, and even the presidency, and lost all. But, in 2011, in particular, Imo people voted more against former Governor Ikedi Ohakim than for Okorocha, so, he merely benefitted from the anger of the people against Ohakim.

    “Even at that, the election went into a bi-election, where Ohakim was finally manipulated out of the race and Okorocha became governor. Also, in 2015, Okorocha, as incumbent governor, could not win outright on first ballot.

    “The election was concluded on a second ballot, where some aggrieved PDP members helped, again, to manipulate him into the governorship.”

    He also pointed out that he defeated Okorocha’s political party in Imo West Senatorial District in 2011 and 2015, even as governorship candidate and incumbent governor, respectively.

    “I think this is more than enough evidence that in terms of popularity, Senator Uzodinma is far more popular than Okorocha in Imo West (the biggest senatorial district in Nigeria) where both come from.

    “The truth of the matter is that all strata of Imo society are celebrating Uzodinma’s victory as the APC governorship candidate and this has brought them back on track to vote massively for APC in 2019.

    “Uzodinma’s popularity in Imo State is infectious and it will not only guarantee victory for APC, but will rake in far more than five million votes for the APC from the Southeast in 2019. So, let no one be deceived by Okorocha’s boast because he is the problem of APC in Imo State and the Southeast.”

    As the war of words continue and as there seems to be no solution in the peace moves, concerned stakeholders are watching closely to see the final effect on the fortunes of the party in 2019.

     

  • Imo APC: Nwosu urges Oshiomhole to ignore ‘Abuja politicians’

    A former Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor, Uche Nwosu, has urged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, to ignore those he called Abuja politicians and take decisions that are in consonance with the will of the people.

    Nwosu, who addressed reporters at the weekend in Owerri, the state capital, noted that undermining the masses to please a crop of politicians, who he said are not in touch with the people, would mar the chances of the party in next year’s general elections.

    Nwosu, who was declared winner of the state APC governorship primary, urged the party’s leadership to avoid basing their decisions on sentiments and propaganda perpetrated by the “Abuja-based politicians”.

    The APC chieftain said such politicians “cannot even win their polling booths in an election”.

    Nwosu said he has the best chances of winning the governorship election for the party.

    The APC chieftain noted that elections are not won on television or pages of newspapers.

    He urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct popularity test in the state to find out those who can win the election for the party.

    Nwosu said: “The question our party should be asking is: do we want to win this election? And how do you win a general election? Of course, you must have the people with you and you must make sure that the people believe in you. Yout must not just stay in Abuja and make all the noise while you are not on the ground.

    “One challenge I have thrown to these people is that they should come home and let us put our popularity to test. Let them organise a rally and let me organise one too and let us judge by the turnout who is truly on the ground and who is more popular, who won’t win elections on the television or on the pages of newspapers.”

  • Imo APC: Court declines to substitute Nwosu’s name

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja has consolidated two suits filed by Mr. Uche Nwosu and Senator Hope Uzodinma in the dispute arising from the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election primary.

    It declined to substitute Nwosu’s name as pleaded by Uzodinma.

    Nwozu won the primary conducted by APC-approved panel while Uzodinma was proclaimed winner of the primary conducted by a faction.

    Justice Othman Musa adjourned to October 23 for the APC and INEC to show cause why the reliefs sought by Uzodinma in a motion ex-parte, which the court heard on October 9, but declined to grant, should not be granted.

    The reliefs include an order directing the APC to forward his name (Uzodimma) to INEC as the party’s governorship candidate for Imo State, and an order restraining INEC from continuing to process or publish any other person’s name, except the name of Uzodimma, as Imo State governorship candidate of the APC in the 2019 election.

    The judge also directed that parties in the suit should amend their documents to reflect the names of those make parties yesterday. He also directed that all necessary documents should be filed before the next date.

    In his suit, Nwosu sought to compel APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept him as the party’s governorship candidate while Uzodinman is seeking a similar request in his suit.

    The consolidation, Nwosu’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) said, was directed by the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, upon the request by his (Ogunwumiju’s) client to avoid conflicting judgments, because the cases are on the same issue. Ogunwumiju said his client;s case was earlier before Justice Valentine Ashi before Justice Bello’s directive.

    Justice Musa, after consolidating both suits, also granted Nwosu’s application to be made a party in the suit by Uzodinma. Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) argued the application for Nwosu, which wwas not opposed by Uzodinma’s lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN).

    Justice Musa also granted another application filed by Okere Uzochukwu and Alozie Okechukwu (for themselves and on behalf of APC members, who voted for Owerri zone candidates at the APC’s governorship election conducted by the Alhaji Ahmed Gulak-led panel).

    Lawyer to Uzochukwu and Okechukwu, Mr. Okere Nnamdi, while arguing the application, said his clients were necessary parties to the case because its outcome would affect them.

    He said his client’s grouse was that APC’s decision to select its governorship candidate from the same Orlu zone, where Governor Okorocha comes from, violates the constitutional provisions of section 14(4) and 224, which direct that political parties must conduct their affairs to reflect equity and fairness among all.

    The judge however rejected the application by and Chitex Ventures limited and Chima Akuzie, whose lawyer, Oluwatosin Ojaomo told the court that Uzodinma was indebted to his clients to the tune of N200million.

    Ojaomo, who noted that there was a subsisting arrest warrant issued by an Abuja court against Uzodinma, said he (Uzodinma) was planning to use the N200m owed his clients to contest the forthcoming governorship election/

    The lawyer added that a criminal matter had been instituted against Uzodinma for allegedly issuing a dud cheque of N200m to his clients.

    The proceedings were held up for about one hour owning to a major disagreement between Akintola and Agi.

    At a point, both lawyers were standing and speaking at the same time, thereby occasioning rowdy proceedings.

    The hot exchange between the lawyers lasted for some minuites and created a rowdy atmosphere, in the midst of which the judge stood up and went into his chambers.

    Other senior lawyers in court, including Damian Dodo, Kenneth Njemanze and Ogunwumiju (all SANs) later intervened and appealed to the feuding lawyers to allow peace to reign.

    After successfully reconciling both warring lawyers, the senior lawyers, seven in all, later went to apologise to the judge in his chambers.

    When proceedings resumed about one hour later, Dodo apologised to the judge in the open court.

    Dodo said: “My Lord, I apologise for the incident that led to the abrupt rising of the court. I undertake that we will not to allow this to happen again.”

    The judge accepted the apology and proceeded with the court’s business

  • 2019: Imo APC backs Oshiomhole, Buhari

    …says party is repositioned for victory

     

    As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), grapples with the challenges of selecting its candidates for the 2019 general elections, the Imo State chapter of the party, has restated its confidence in the National leadership of the party headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The State Chairman of the party, Hon Daniel Nwafor, who made the position of the SEC known to journalists in Owerri, commended Oshiomhole’s leadership style, which he said has strengthened participatory and internal democracy in the party.

    Describing Oshiomhole as the best thing that has happened to the party, Nwafor, noted that he has successfully navigated the party out of crisis and repositioned it for great exploits within a short period.

    According to the APC Chair, the effect of the ‘Oshiomhole magic’, has already transformed the APC in Imo State, adding that “it is now the party of first choice among other numerous political parties.

    In his words, ” I am highly impressed with the performance of the Chairman of our great party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and this has justified our support for him. In his first few months in office, he has returned the party to the winning ways. From the Ekiti governorship election to Senate bye elections in other states, the party has won convincingly against the predictions of the opposition “.

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    He continued that, ” Imo APC under my leadership has implicit and unshakable confidence in the National leadership of our party headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and we are ready to sweep the polls as a way of appreciating his astute leadership.

    “The name of Oshiomhole has been giving opposition parties sleepless nights and that is what the APC needed at this time. I make bold to say that it took the strong leadership of Oshiomhole to defeat the intention of those that defected from the APC, which was to destroy the party. So the party is relying on Oshiomhole’s experience, goodwill and strength of character to win the 2019 elections”.

    The party also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his “Sterling achievements”, which they said has endeared the APC to Nigerians.

    Nwafor assured that the President will record landslide victory in the state, adding that, “President Muhammadu Buhari has performed so well with remarkable projects in the Southeast, such that working for his reelection will not pose any challenge and he will have a resounding victory in Imo State in 2019”.

    Meanwhile the Imo state chapter of the APC adopted the indirect primary as the mode for electing its candidates in line with the directives of the party’s NEC

  • Imo APC denies other governorship aspirants

    •Party disowns Uzodinma

    Chairman of the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Daniel Nwafor has said the party is not “officially” aware of other aspirants who have bought their governorship nomination forms except Chief of Staff to the Governor, Uche Nwosu.

    Nwafor, who addressed reporters at the party’s secretariat in Owerri, said though some of the aspirants may have obtained their nomination forms in Abuja, they have, however, not notified the party of their intention.

    The chairman restated that the State Executive Committee has adopted the indirect primary to choose its candidates for the elective positions, including the governorship.

    He said: “The SEC is only aware of one person who has obtained his governorship nomination form, and that is Uche Nwosu. We are not aware of any other aspirant. We have not been officially communicated by any other person, though they will attend primaries.”

    The APC chair, however, assured the aspirants that the party is committed to conducting free and fair primaries which will give them a level playing ground.

    The party has disowned Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo West), saying he is not a member of the party.

    Nwafor told reporters that Uzodinma, who runs a parallel APC office, has not registered with the party both at his ward and local government.

    He cautioned Uzodinma against using President Muhammadu Buhairi’s and National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole’s names for selfish pursuits.

    “In the last few days our party has been inundated with calls over the activities of some persons who are posing to be members of the APC. Our party is particularly disturbed that this people are headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma, who has been misleading the public on certain issues concerning our party.

    “Our attention was drawn to a kangaroo meeting supposedly held by a faction led by Uzodinma. We say boldly that Senator Uzodinma is not a member of the APC, his Omuma Ward Chairman has not informed the party that Uzodinma has joined the party.

    “Senator Uzodinma has not declared on the floor of the Senate that he has joined the APC, the State Executive Council (SEC) is not aware that he is a member of this party. There has been a lot of statements credited to him, inferring that President Muhammadu Buhari and Comrade Adams Oshiomole has empowered him to determine delegates and aspirants, as well as run this party.

    “We want to inform our party’s National Executive Committee that, to the best of our knowledge, Senator Hope Uzodinma is not a member of APC. If there are waivers for him, we have not been communicated formerly…”