Gunmen suspected to be hired assassins on Friday morning killed an All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government Chairman, Mr. Sunny Ejeagwu.
The victim was the APC Chairman for Ideato North Council Area of the state.
He was among the Local Government Chairmen elected in the fresh Congress conducted in the State.
Details later….
…Okorocha congratulates new officials
The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday elected a new State Chairman, Mr. Daniel Nwafor, during a well attended state Congress held at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC).
It will be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, had ordered for fresh congresses in the state, after it nullified the one earlier conducted by a faction of the party for flouting the provisions of the constitution of the party.
The party consequently rescheduled the Ward, Local Government and State Congresses in the state in compliance with the Court judgment.
Chairman of the Congress Committee, Adesayo Ojo, expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the exercise, noting that it complied with the extant rules of the party.
He said that members of the Committee worked tirelessly to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free, while charging the newly elected state Executive members to work together as a team and bring back all aggrieved members to the fold.
Ojo also tasked the State Working Committee to ensure that they reposition the party ahead of the 2019 general elections, so that the party will record landslide victory at all levels.
In his speech shortly after his inauguration by the Chairman of the Congress Committee, the Chairman (Nwufor), pledged to run an inclusive leadership that will carry every member of the party along.
According to him, the State Working Committee will as a matter of urgency, constitute a reconciliation committee that will reach out to all aggrieved members and settle all areas of dispute.
He also hinted that the new state leadership of the party is poised to deliver the party 100 percent in the 2019 elections, adding that, “we are going to embark on aggressive membership drive to further strengthen our party and position it for victory”.
According to Nwufor, “we are not going to leave anyone behind we are going to run an inclusive administration that will give every member equal opportunities. We are also going to quickly put machineries in motion to reach out to all aggrieved members of our great party so that together we can make our party greater.
Certifying the Congress, a delegation from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Imo State Office, led Mr. Victor Nwokeabia, the Head of Admin and Monitoring, said that the exercise met with the provisions of the constitution of the party.
He said, “we are here in compliance with the Electoral Act which mandates INEC to monitor activities of political parties including congresses of this nature and we are satisfied with the conduct of the APC State Congress held in Imo today”.
The State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who participated in the exercise, described it as “the legitimate exercise”, noting that the previous Congress purportedly held in the state was illegitimate”.
He said, “you can see with the turnout today that this is the legitimate Congress because when you are allow the party members choose their leaders, it will deepen internal democracy”.
The Governor congratulated the elected party officials and charged them to work hard and conduct the affairs of the party in line with constitution.
Consequently, the 27 elected Local Government Chairmen were sworn-in by the State Chairman.
•Orders fresh congresses
•Okorocha hails ruling
A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has nullified the ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Lewis Allagoa held that the congresses were never held. He, therefore, ordered the party to conduct fresh congresses in line with party guidelines.
He said: “They should go back and conduct fresh congresses in accordance with the party’s constitution. They should be responsible and save our democracy.”
Justice Allagoa, who said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) affirmed that the congresses did not hold, also dismissed arguments by the defendant’s lawyer that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to challenge the conduct of the congresses.
He also dismissed the argument by counsel to the second and eight defendants, Kelvin Nwufor (SAN), that the plaintiffs did not get a leave of court to serve the defendants outside the jurisdiction of the court. He said the Federal High Court has one jurisdiction.
Justice Allagoa, therefore, granted the plaintiffs’ prayers that the court declare as null and void, results purported to have emanated from the APC ward congresses as the congresses never held.
Governor Rochas Okorocha has hailed the judgment, saying it has authenticated his claim that the congresses did not hold.
He said: “The judiciary has remained the last hope of the common man, institutions and processes, especially as they concern our democracy.
“Imo is the only APC state in the Southeast and should have been encouraged to hold successful congresses, to show a good example to other states in the zone. It is sad that those who had the task of conducting credible congresses decided to submerge it for their selfish agenda.”
The governor hailed party members for “remaining calm and steadfast despite the controversy”.
He vowed that the Imo APC will not tolerate those undue manipulations of electoral processes, saying “anyone determined to play politics in APC must do so in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution and with approved democratic culture and practices”.
Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has hailed the Federal High Court Judgment which nullified All Progressives Congress (APC) Congresses in the state.
A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa had ordered fresh Ward Congresses in the state that will comply with the guidelines of the party.
Okorocha in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, remarked that “the Judgment of the Court on the issue of APC congresses in Imo has only authenticated his sustained claim and that of patriotic leaders of APC in Imo that the congresses did not hold in the state with a lot of proofs to that effect”
The governor argued further that “the judiciary has remained not only the last hope of the common man, but also the last hope of institutions and processes especially as they concern our democracy”.
He regretted that the former National officers of the party, had for one reason or the other decided to mess up the congresses that would have taken place in the state and had also ignored his genuine concern and repeated appeal that the congresses should be conducted to enable party members in the state fully participate and elect officials of their choice.
The governor noted that “Imo is the only APC state in the South-East and should have been encouraged to have successful congresses, to show good example to other states in the geo-political zone but regretted that those who had the task of conducting free and fair congresses decided to submerge the whole venture for their selfish agenda.
The governor commended members of APC in the state for “remaining calm and steadfast for all the time the controversies over the congresses were on and noted that the court has restored the desire of party members to elect officers of their choice at all levels in the state”.
He vowed APC in Imo will not tolerate those undue manipulations of electoral processe, adding that “anybody determined to play his or her politics in APC must do so in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution and also in line with approved democratic culture and practices”.
…dismiss Okorocha’s Petition
The Appeals Committee into the ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state has over ruled the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and members of the state House of Assembly that ward congresses did not take place in the state.
However, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said the party was yet to consider reports from any of the states.
In a report submitted to the National Working Committee signed by the chairman of the three man committee, Senator Abubakar Tature and one other member, Ikenna Uzoka, the committee none of those statutorily qualified t9 petition the committee to complain against the conduct of the exercise did so.
But the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Hon. Acho Ihim who led other members of the legislature in the state to the national secretariat of the party told newsmen that no congress held anywhere in the state, pointing out that since there was no congress, there was nothing for them to petition against.
The state governor, Rochas Okorocha had earlier met President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo to protest alleged malfeasance during the last two congresses in his state and to demand its cancellation.
The Appeal committee however rectified the ward and local government Congresses held in Imo state and dismissed the petition by aggrieved stakeholders on grounds saying the petitions submitted by them and the state governor lacked merit.
Part of the report reads: “that the congress committee whose duty was to conduct the congress election affirmed that the election took place. That the state party chairman and his deputy affirmed that the elections were duel held in All the 305 wards of the state.
“That the person’s who would have the right to petition over the conduct over the ward congress election are those qualified to contest the congress having purchased the forms.
“That the petitions were written by unqualified persons and therefore would be construed as lacking the locus standing/basis to bring in any petition and that the video evidence by the petitioner was an incidence that took place in a private residence which was not which was not a ward congress voting venue.
“Based on the evidence and careful consideration carried out by us as the appeals committee, we hereby hold that the ward congress of 5th May 2018were duely conducted and held in the 305 wards of Imo and APC ward officers were duely elected.”
However, Speaker of the Imo state Assembly who led some members of the House of Representatives and 24 members of the Imo state House of Assembly to a meeting with the APC National Chairman, said they had come to the national headquarters of the party to protest the conduct of congress in Imo state.
He said that they mobilized the 24 members of the State Assembly in order to show how serious the matter is to the party stakeholders in Imo state, adding that the lawmakers and governor still has implicit confidence in ability of the NWC to resolve the issues at stake.
He said: “We are here to reaffirm that there was no Congresses in the 305 wards in Imo and we demand that a categorical statement be made by the party for a new date that fresh Congresses of the party will be held.
“As for the discussions we had with the national chairman, that was an in-house thing but we have affirmed our stand with our governor, we are still standing with our governor.
He is the face of the APC in the South East. Of course the young man has done so well that without him, there would have been no APC in the South East in the first place. Imo state in particular is the fulcrum of APC and it cannot be toyed with.
“We demand that the constituted statement and announcement be made about the congresses that did not hold. The new date should be announced and the whole things should be ratified and there will be peace in the state.
“The shenanigans that we saw can never be taken for congresses. We are taking this very seriously, and that is why honourable members of APC extractions combined with the house of representatives are here to affirm same, that there was no congress and we never take to have been held and we here are saying that we support his excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, ” he said.
On the governor endorsing his son-in-law as the basis for the crisis within the APC in the state, he said: “You will agree with me that Uche Nwosu is qualified to hold Imo state.
“One, he’s a bonafide citizen of Imo state of Nigeria and he’s of age, academically sound and the governor as a person endorsing his son-in-law, he has his preferences as a person, I have mine too and we all do. You too do. And as such, whoever you want to endorse, you too can endorse.
“For us, for me and for the governor, we have endorsed the son, Nwosu as a person, aiming when the primaries come, people of Imo state will decide. If it goes to other candidate, so be it. It doesn’t imply that at the moment, you can’t do your own. Endorsement is not a special thing. That is it.”
Leaders of APC in Imo State on Thursday met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential villa behind closed doors without Gov. Rochas Okorocha.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorocha was not in the meeting although he was at the VP’s wing of the Presidential villa at the time.
The APC leaders at the meeting included State Party Chairman, National Organising Secretary, Deputy Governor, Senators Benjamin Uwajumogu and Ifeanyi Ararume and some commissioners.
Okorocha and the APC leaders had been at loggerheads over the result of the May 2 ward congresses held in the state, with the governor claiming that the congresses did not hold.
Okorocha had met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura and now the Vice President pushing for the cancellation of the congresses.
After the meeting, the APC delegation had initially declined to speak with State House Correspondents, but changed their mind when they saw Okorocha telling the correspondents that a new date for the congresses would be announced by the party.
“There will be new Congress; there was no Congress at all in Imo State, and it is very clear that even the supporting documents and videos show that there was no Congress.
“INEC has confirmed no Congress, security agencies have confirmed no Congress, the party leadership has confirmed no Congress, and the party chairman has spoken no Congress.
“Nobody came to the field, the result sheets was missing and it was traceable to the national organizing secretary’s house (Sen. Izunaso) and all of a sudden the chairman of the panel disappeared from his house at 6pm in the evening.
“How could there have been Congress? The matter is being investigated by the security agencies”
Continuing, the governor asked: “If all these have been established why did you (the APC chieftains) have to come with your delegates to see the VP?’’
The governor stated that he was not part of the delegation but came for a different thing all together.
“I didn’t come for this meeting,’’ he said.
However, Mr Theodore Ekechi, the spokesman for the Imo APC delegation and a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy said the meeting with Osinbajo was very eventful.
“We are grateful for the opportunity and privilege to tell the other side of the story.
“I think by our presentations we have successfully deflated all the lies that have been peddled all over the country and within the state.
“I think by our presentation today, we have been able to state clearly that Congresses clearly and really held.
“What did not take place in Imo state last Saturday was simply that we resisted the temptation, the intimidation, the blackmail to write the results of the congresses in the Government House, Owerri.
“What did not take place last week is that we said the old has passed away and things are going to be done anew in Imo State.
“In other words, not one man determines the results of the congresses in the 305 wards of the state. It is very clear that APC has returned to the owners of the party, that is the people,’’ he stated.
Ekechi continued: “You saw all those who came with the Governor, his son-in law and newly recruited commissioners.
“But here you are, this is Imo State, here we have the deputy governor of the state, the only elected senator of the south east under APC, former speaker house of assembly, Imo state, another former speaker house of assembly.’’
He also mentioned Ifeanyi Ararume, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government and immediate past chief of staff, and two former commissioners for information and strategy.
Others were the State Party chairman and his deputy, the 25 local government chairmen of the party in the state.(NAN)
The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has passed a vote of confidence in Governor Rochas Okorocha for “contributing significantly” to the party’s development.
The SEC, in a communiqué at the end of its maiden meeting at the Concorde Hotel in Owerri, agreed to take disciplinary actions against any aspirant, who flouts the party’s constitution.
In communiqué signed by the Chairman Dr. Hillary Eke, the party resolved to “ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the party’s constitution in handling all its affairs to strengthen the party’s organs.”
The communiqué reads: “The SEC also resolved to encourage members to shun distractions from the opposition and work for the unity and growth of the party, to strengthen our structures for victory.
“It was also agreed that the party shall cooperate with the government to ensure a credible.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has distanced itself from the ongoing endorsement of candidates for the 2019 governorship election.
The party said it can only support candidates who emerge after a credible primary which will afford aspirants a level playing ground.
The Chairman, Hillary Eke, insisted that Governor Rochas Okorocha’s endorsement of his Chief of Staff and son-in-law Uche Nwosu, as his likely successor, is a private decision which does not reflect the party’s position.
He, however, said the governor has the right to support anyone for any position “but should not be mistaken as the party’s position”.
THE Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo State, Mr Mashal Okaforanyawu, said the party had set a target for one million members in the ongoing party registration in the state. Okofoanyawur, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Owerri, urged party loyalists to make sure they participate enmass in the exercise. He said the exercise would determine fate of the party in 2015 general elections and urged members to guard against any disruption from the opposition. “I call on those who believe in our party to make sure they are duly registered in their various polling units.” He also called on the officials handling the registration to guard against manipulation in the discharge of their duties. Okofoanyawur said that the party would not discriminate against anybody and urged members of the other political parties wishing to join APC to also participate in the registration. The chairman, however, stressed that only those who are duly registered with the party would participate in the state congress.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State yesterday debunked a media report that 5,000 of its members in Njaba Local Government Area defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Some newspapers reported that some APC members were received into the PDP by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.
APC State Coordinator Prince Marshal Anyanwu described the purported defection as “the imagination of those afraid of the party’s growing acceptability”.
Anyanwu said: “It is a lie. How can there be such cross over when the party in question is not in power. Even if it is in power, credible APC men cannot join PDP.
“If it is true, why were PDP leaders in Orlu absent at the rally? Why was it Ihedioha from Owerri zone that purportedly received them?”