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Tag: Owelle Rochas Okorocha;

  • Expert on Okorocha’s contribution to tourism

    The appointment of the immediate past governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as the Senate Committee Chairman on Tourism is eliciting mixed reactions. While many believe he is the right person for the position, others have a contrary position.

    Some believe that the infrastructural decay Okorocha left behind is a disservice to tourism, since the sector could only thrive, if the infrastructure to get to these sites are in good shape.

    According to those supporting his appointment, Okorocha developed the state capital through building monuments and leisure facilities that promote tourism in the state.

    Ikechi Uko, a tourism expert and organizer of the West Africa tourism fair, Akwaaba West African Travel Market, Lagos, said: “I was invited in 2017 by a governorship candidate to write a tourism plan for his campaign.

    “I was taken round Owerri for a survey of facilities on the ground. I counted 175 hotels, four new conference centres enough to hold more events than any city in the South East. There was an attempt to start an airline using the airport as a hub; an attempt to start a carnival similar to Carnival Calabar.

    “He built statues which are supposed to help the whole tourism attempt. I saw a good plan that was badly executed. I told the candidate that the plan was good but the job was bungled.

    “Now, as an outsider, I judged based on what I saw. No sentiment attached. I was invited to assess what was on ground and I did my report. Imo State has the best hotels today outside Enugu in the whole of South East. Because the growth happened under his watch as governor, if we credit him with the bad, we should also credit him with the good.”

    Okorocha, as Imo State governor, was credited with building and developing leisure facilities that promote tourism in Imo State, especially the state capital, Owerri.

  • I’ve taken enough insults from Oshiomhole and I’ll not leave APC for him -Okorocha

    Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, bares it all in an interview with select Editors in Abuja. arguing that there was no justification for the travails he is being subjected to by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission in his bid to collect his Certificate of Return as the duly elected winner of the Senatorial election in Imo West. Our Deputy Editor, Nation’s Capital, Yomi Odunuga, was there. Excerpts

    HOW far have you gone in your bid to retrieve the senatorial Certificate of Return seized by the Independent National Electoral Commission?

    I had written a letter to INEC informing the officials about their wrong doings and illegal actions taken by INEC to withhold my certificate on mere allegation of duress, which was never founded, neither was there any committee set up to investigate the matter. INEC on their own believed the reports by their returning officer, without investigating the authenticity of such allegation. So, there was no issue of fair hearing at all on whether I committed the offence that their person alleged. What is important here is that INEC doesn’t have the power to withhold my Certificate of Return, having declared a result. Both the Certificate of Return and the declaration are just one subject matter, just that the other one is ceremonial because result has been declared. Looking at some of the activities that have taken place since this issue of my certificate, it became obvious that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, was up to a game with the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who are being used to frustrate my coming to the Senate and this is politically motivated. I’ve given enough time that INEC might correct itself and do the needful and issue a Certificate of Return, all to no avail. To buttress the point more, even after issuance of this letter to INEC, many things have happened within the week; for instance, INEC that made a submission to the tribunal in Owerri has gone back requesting that they want to withdraw the submission they have made. The submission they made was defending the declaration by INEC, which is normal that INEC ought to defend their declaration. But because that submission was seen to be in my favour, INEC has gone back to say they will withdraw the submission, which is also out of time. Now, they went through an affidavit by the Head of Legal Department; one Mr. Elekwa, who made the submission, has now gone back to say he wants to withdraw and reliably, I was informed that he was under threat by one Festus Okoye, who has threatened to sack him from INEC if he does not withdraw. So, there is a huge threat going on now in INEC to sack the gentleman for not doing the wrong thing or being part of the script and I’m sure, for some reason, they may have forgotten to inform him to do the wrong thing because if they had informed him to do the wrong thing, he would have done that. He went there believing that he was defending INEC the normal way they should. Festus Okoye is the man being used as the hatchet man now to do this in line with the game being played by the National Chairman of APC.

    What fact do you have to buttress the belief that the APC Chairman is involved in your travails with INEC?

    Surprisingly, and again to also buttress the point, the APC National Chairman has gone to the tribunal asking to withdraw the matter which APC had filed defending the victory of APC at the Senate. What INEC is doing is the same thing the APC is doing. So, this tells you that there is a game going on. But I wonder what they will do with the certificate. If they don’t give me the certificate, who will they give it to? Maybe they will give it to Festus Okoye because Festus Okoye is from my senatorial zone. But what these gentlemen are doing is presenting INEC as a lying organisation and that is dangerous for our democracy because, as it stands right now, the image of INEC is bastardized for this singular act and they are setting a bad precedent. What that means is that tomorrow, somebody can withdraw the result of anybody because you don’t like his face or because you feel he is going to politically challenge you in the future. But, it is rather very funny to see this happening in our own time and generation. What is happening now is what happened in the primitive days, not now in this modern world.

    Has INEC responded to your letter?

    They have not responded to my letter. They have said nothing to me. I wrote that letter in my capacity as the Governor of a State who contested for the Senate and INEC cannot ignore my letter. So, I demand explanation from INEC as to why they have withheld it.

    But you went to court?

    I took INEC to court in a matter between me and INEC, to give me my certificate, which is the normal thing. But INEC has also now connived with other parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and also the All Progressive Grand Alliance, to be a joinder. Even today, they also said somebody else wants to join. Everyday, somebody keeps joining, just to delay the matter. There is complete high level of conspiracy to fight Rochas. But I assure them, they will fail.

    Why the conspiracy?

    It’s politically motivated definitely. If not, why do this? The story started when they imposed a candidate on Imo State; when they imposed Hope Uzodinma who came two weeks to our primaries and they want to give him the ticket at all cost, leaving the people who founded the party, who won the primaries. You remember Gulak came and ran away with the result sheets. They upheld it.

    You said the National Chairman of the party is part of your travails. But I remember that you were one of those who supported him to emerge as the National Chairman of your party. What suddenly happened that he is now against you?

    Yes, he is part and parcel of the game plan. There is nothing personal between Adams Oshiomhole and I other than that Adams Oshiomhole is part and parcel of this high level conspiracy to bring down Rochas politically. This is just aimed at making sure that Rochas doesn’t have a solid foundation politically. They say if I get to the Senate, I want to run for the President and all of that; that I want to run for 2023 elections. Who told them? Have I declared? You wait until I declare and when I do declare, we now fight politically.

    Read also: Okorocha’s Certificate of Return: Court decides PDP’s fate Thursday

    It’s totally unacceptable. That the party I formed that brought out the APC we have today will treat me in this manner is also unfortunate because the evil I feared in the PDP has befallen me ten times in the APC. I hate injustice and that’s what I’m seeing on daily basis now playing out. What they are doing makes them to also appear to me as cowards. When you want to fight a man, you come out and take responsibility and say I will fight Rochas. But they are hiding. If they are man enough, let them come out and say Rochas, I’m going to fight you, let me know how they want to fight.

    Part of the problems you have with your party is because of the alleged anti-party activities that you carried out in Imo State by asking one of your principal officers to join another party to contest the gubernatorial poll and you used your machinery to support him. Is that true?

    This is just a later development. It has been on. You forgot there was a primary. You forgot there was even a Congress where the then Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, ran away with the ballot boxes and the Police Commissioner was later transferred? It’s just a booklet that is opened page by page on a daily basis. You forgot that Gulak even came and ran away with the result sheets and said election is finished. The security were there and all of these people. That’s part of the conspiracy. It’s not about anti-party.

    You met with the President on this matter on two occasions. How come the party has not resolved the problem?

    What I took to the President was entirely a different matter because I believe that this matter shouldn’t be a matter that Mr. President should come in. If you know President Muhammadu Buhari as a person, he is not such a person who interferes.

    I don’t think Mr. President is behind this. Buhari is definitely not behind this. If you know President Muhammadu Buhari in his own style, you will know that he will keep quiet and never say anything about this until they prove themselves right or wrong.

    If those behind it are very close to President, can’t the President call them to order?

    Remember this matter has to do with INEC and INEC is perceived to be independent and if Mr. President is going to talk to INEC, he’s interfering with the independence of INEC. Whether Mr. President speaks or not, what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.

    With all of these, do you still feel comfortable about remaining in the APC?

    I’m in the APC. I’ve never thought of leaving the party for now and I have no reason because I won under the platform of APC.

    When you say the misfortune you feared in PDP has befallen you ten times in the APC, are you still comfortable remaining and allowing the misfortune to multiply?

    Where will I go to? I have to be in the APC. I formed the APC.

    Are you stranded?

    I’m not stranded. I’m in APC and I have not indicated that I’m going to leave APC. Remember that the intention of these people is to frustrate me out of politics and out of APC so that they can have a field of play. But all I advise today is that let no institution or organisation allow itself to be used as an instrument to destroy somebody politically who has committed no offence.

    If by chance you meet Adams Oshiomhole today, what will you tell him?

    We will chat as usual. What will I do to him? The last time I saw Oshiomhole was when I went to Oshiomhole’s office and he sent his State Security Service man to insult me in his office, before the governorship candidate of Akwa Ibom, the NDDC guy who also reacted against the gentleman. An SSS was pushing me out as a governor from his office. So, I’ve taken enough of insults from Oshiomhole and all those that are planning this evil.

    You said the anti-graft agencies are on the trail of many people in your government. Are you suspecting that they are part of this conspiracy because what they said before the election, they claimed that you were taking money from government coffers to buy votes?

    First and foremost, if you think right and people reason well, if you want to withdraw N17 billion in this country now, it will take you two years to get N17 billion from all the banks in Nigeria. So, these are frivolities. But anybody can say anything against you just to find a way to attack you and I’m saying that they should apply some reasonability in what they do. Nobody should be used as an instrument to fight anybody because of some political reasons. If not, such institutions also will lose their credibility.

  • ‘We welcome observers, but won’t accept interference in our electoral process’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that while it welcome foreign observers coming to monitor the 2019 general election, it will not accept any form of meddlesomeness, intimidation or interference by any foreign country in the electoral process in the guise of election monitoring.

    The party said those coming to observe the election should be aware that Nigeria was a sovereign state and not a colony of any nation and should therefore apply international best practices in carrying out their functions as election observers.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in a statement in Abuja that the party was solidly behind the statement credited to the Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, adding that they were ready to defend the integrity of the nation.

    Onilu said “We stand fully by the statement as regards any country that thinks we are a colony; that we have a right to defend every inch of this country; and we are not a banana republic.

    “So what Governor El-Rufai said clearly is the position of this government that we are proud as Nigerians and we are ready to defend the integrity of this country and that any country that thinks in the name of election will want to interfere and dictate to us or intimidate us in any way, it is unacceptable. That is exactly what Governor El-Rufai has said. The PDP can twist it the way they want.

    “Governor El-Rufai never said people should not come and observe or monitor elections. And he was not referring to people who are genuinely coming to monitor and observe the elections. Nigerians also go to other countries as monitors and observers. So that is acceptable to us. We welcome peer review. What we don’t welcome and what is unacceptable to us is any country thinking we are a colony, we are not. We are a sovereign nation.”

    On the development within the party in Imo state, Onilu said the National Working Committee of the party was yet t9 take a decisi. On the disciplinary action taken against the Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha by the state chapter of the party.

    He said “We are aware of the situation in Imo and we have made our point clear. Let me reiterate that APC does not have an alliance with any party including the Action Alliance. We are not in alliance with any party whatsoever in this election.

    “However, we welcome support for our candidates from any party, but we do not have such an arrangement that accommodate the candidate of any other party besides APC candidates. In Imo and all the thirty-six states, including the FCT, we are campaigning for APC candidates and we expect APC candidates to win elections anywhere we are campaigning in a free and fair atmosphere.

    “We are also aware of the fact the Party’s local chapter has taken some disciplinary action as regards the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. In last few weeks, we have been going round the country to present our scorecard before Nigerians and to seek a renewal of this mandate to continue the good work that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on.

    “The National Working Committee has not been able to seat on that and many other issues pending. In due course the NWC will meet and that may be one of the issues that will be considered.

    “As at today, the real issue in Imo is to emphasise the fact that APC is supporting all APC candidates in Imo and we do not recognise candidates that are not from the APC. We encourage the people of Imo to vote massively for APC candidates. The governorship candidate in Imo remains Senator Hope Uzodinma.”

    On the party’s preparedness for elections, he said “The APC has been working on a daily basis through our activities in terms of implementation of policy and programmes that touch on the common people. These are what we are now showcasing to the public as a means of telling them that the change we promised is actually taking place; seeking a renewal of the mandate they gave us almost four years ago

    “As we all can see, PDP missed the bus. They got to the bus station and instead of boarding the bus; PDP is busy picking on issues that do not concern them. All the time they ought to be campaigning, they wake up on daily basis based on their infamous Dubai strategy meeting that failed before they landed in the country

    “PDP showed abinitio that they were not coming into the elections to win it through the ballots. They put in place all sort of methods and illegal means they had wanted to deploy one after the other to get back to power through the backdoor. The PDP was busy creating false and fake news, spreading all sort of fallacies and that has now come to be their undoing.

    “It is clear that the elections in February 16, the election on March 2 are elections that the APC has demonstrated clearly that we are ready to win. The PDP has not offered any alternative to whatever APC is doing.

    “When you look at the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, he said on national television that one of his priorities is to make his friends rich but we are busy improving the lives of the common people. Nigerian will remember that. Atiku has said he is coming to sell national assets to his foreign and local friends.

    “The question we are going to ask during the election with our PVCs is what happened to all the national assets during the 16years of the PDP and especially when Atiku was vice president and chairman of the privatization council. National assets were sold for a pittance and they have all gone down.

    Read Also: FG invited our observers, EU replies El-Rufai

    “The only things that remain today are those that are personal to him. The gains he made from his position as vice president. This is the person that is contesting against our candidate. A person we just discovered paid heavily to get a 24-hours entrance into the US. That is the kind of person we want to have as president. Nigerians won’t do that.”

    He also frowned at the criticism that has trailed the redeployment of Commissioners of Police, saying “Few weeks ago, it was the same PDP that was crying that the police have been compromised and that the former Inspector General of Police was poised to deliver the election to APC. Now the president has taken the position by appointing a new IGP. Now I don’t know where the noise is coming from.

    “There is no need to deceive ourselves. The whole noise about the posting of commissioners of police is about Kwara state, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is scared stiff remembering all he had done  in the past when he had the control. What he normally used the police for, the way he used to manipulate INEC and he is thinking that the same thing may happen to him.

    “How could you suggest to the police not to carry out its routine exercise. If the police think it is part of its preparation to ensure a free and fair election, provide security before and after the election is to move its personnel around, how does that bother anybody?

    “It is because Bukola Saraki has realised without having control over INEC and the police, there is no way he can win his seat to comeback as a senator. He cannot even deliver his polling unit, without being aided by the police and INEC and that is what he has been doing before but is no longer available for him.

    “But let me assure him and his co travellers, the APC doesn’t need those illegal things to win elections. Infact, we need them to do their jobs, we need them to provide a level playing field to all political parties. That is all we want from the police, that is all we want from INEC. We don’t need the template Bukola Saraki and the PDP have been using and we are not going to use it.”

     

     

     

  • APC: Okorocha dismisses expulsion rumour

    Imo State Governor,  Rochas Okorocha,  on Saturday dismissed reports of his expulsion from the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the state chapter of the party.

    The Imo noted those behind the rumoured expulsion were neither elected Executives of the party, nor appointed by the legitimate Exco.

    He noted that there is no faction in the leadership of the party in the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor,  Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo,  in a statement made available to journalists,  stated that “contrary to what has been read in some sections of the media, the Imo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), never at any time suspended or expelled its leader, Governor Rochas Okorocha from the Party and has never contemplated doing that and won’t have any reason to think about that”.

    The statement  continued that, “there is also no faction in Imo APC. There is only one APC in the State with Hon. Daniel Nwafor as the Chairman and Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the leader. Any other group claiming to be a faction of Imo APC must obviously be a gang of 419ers or league of fraudsters who are experts in issuance of dud cheques and collecting billions for jobs not done”.

    According  to the Governor’s aide, “the the only contentious issue in Imo APC is that the National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole imposed a known PDP member and a known character in the State on the party as its governorship candidate, and by so doing, pushing the party and its members to a very tight corner especially when it comes to the issue of marketing a Candidate.

    “If Mr. Oshiomhole didn’t want the preferred candidate of members of the Party in the State, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, for any reason, and if he actually meant well for Imo APC, he would have taken one of the guber aspirants that formed the coalition who are known members of the party, and who is also from Owerri zone since that was the reason some of them in the Coalition claimed that made them to leave the government.

    Read Also: Madumere remains impeached, says Okorocha

    “But the APC National Chairman preferred a PDP man and also from Orlu zone. And he imposed the candidate on the party and at a time the man was facing charges on corruption. That is the problem with Imo APC and its guber Candidate”.

    It also added that, “aside this problem, Oshiomhole also told his audience that he has dissolved the EXCOs of the Party from the State to the wards in total disregard of a ruling by Hon. Justice O.A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Bwari Abuja, delivered on August 14, 2018 in Suit No:FCT/HC/BW/CV/103/2018.

    “In the ruling, Justice Musa stated; “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants either by themselves, the National Working Committee, or National Executive Committee from either removing, substituting, replacing, suspending or interfering with the tenure of the 3rdDefendant/Claimant, his Executive and all elected officers of the 1st Defendant contained in exhibits A,B,C and D from their elected offices.

    “And to the best of our knowledge, Justice Musa’s ruling has neither been appealed against nor quashed. In other words, Mr. Oshiomhole decided to urinate on the High Court ruling when he said he has dissolved the Daniel Nwafor EXCO and has set up the M.O. Nlemigbo Caretaker Committee. One therefore does not need to be a SAN to know that the National Chairman’s action was null, void and of no effect. It was effort in futility and that is why a contempt charge has been filed against him.

    “We are worried that the elections are around the corner and some people who are expected to know better, are behaving as if they have nothing at stake. Governor Okorocha and APC members in the State will deliver President Muhammadu Buhari and other marketable Candidates of the Party. And the party in the State shall outlive these yahoo folks”.

  • APC may adopt direct primaries in Imo – Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that the party may use the direct primary option for the conduct of its governorship primary in Imo state in other to avoid litigation that may affect the chances of the candidates of the party in the general election.

    Oshiomhole who spoke at a peace meeting between for leaders of the party in the state told all aspirants in the state to go and test their popularity with the people since they all  believe in their popularity.

    Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Acho Ihim led the governor’s group while Senator Uzodinma led the other group.

    The APC chairman appealed to the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to cede part of the leadership of the party in the state to the Senator Hope Nzodinma led faction of rye party in the interest of lasting peace in the state.

    Oshiomhole told the Okorocha faction to take 55 percent of the party structure in the state while the other group led by Senator Hope Uzodinma takes 45 per cent so as to achieve lasting peace in the Imo APC.

    While acknowledging the leadership of the governor in the state, the APC Chairman said “I will not allow any body to take him for granted or rubbish his personality”.

    The APC Chairman, who described the first congresses held in Imo State as a fraud, stressed the need for the warring members to sheath their sword in the interest of the party.

    Read Also: APC governors insist on indirect primaries

    He said “the essence of this meeting is to seek equity and justice. I respect Governor Rochas because he is one governor that fought to ensure we have APC in Imo State. But now more people are joining the party, the House has gotten bigger, we need peace in Imo state and I am urging you people to reconcile and harmonize.

    “I suggested a formula to the Governor. It is not right that under my watch a faction of our members are wiped out. If we don’t work together it will weaken our party and that is why I am suggesting 55 per cent to the Governor’s group and 45 per cent to Senator Uzodinma’s group. Some people are speaking law but I want to win election in Imo State not court cases.

    “That is why we have chosen not to talk about the law but coexistence. Court don’t give peace they give judgment. We should talk less about power and talk more of peace. Everybody matters in this business. It can be dangerous to take one for granted.

    “Don’t ever take one another for granted on the day of election and any one of us who have not learnt on former President Jonathan’s mistake is not a politician. So we must all swallow our pride and embrace peace for the sake of the party”

  • Oshiomhole fails to resume as new APC chairman

    The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole failed to resume at the national secretariat of the party on Monday as promised by him during his inauguration on Sunday evening.

    However, a few of the National Working Committee members elected alongside Oshiomhole reported to the secretariat briefly apparently to inspect their offices.

    One of those who reported to the national secretariat at about mid-day was the newly elected National Organising Secretary, Barrister Emma Ibediro who came to the secretariat with his supporters and went straight to the office of the Organising Secretary where they prayed before taking pictures in the office with the supporters.

    Ibediro who was sponsored for the position of National Organising Secretary by Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha defeated the former occupant of the office, Senator Osita Izunaso in a keenly contested battle that saw tempers rise during the convention.

    Read Also:Oshiomhole’s resumption shifted as staff waits anxiously

    The newly elected National Youth Leader, Abubakar Shuaib also reported to the secretariat and stayed briefly before leaving.

    The Nation gathered that the resumption of Comrade Oshiomhole was shifted at the request of the former National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, who pleaded that he needed a little more time to tidy up his hand over notes.

    Comrade Oshiomhole had promised to resume at the national secretariat as early as 8.00am on Monday, but it was gathered that he may now resume on Tuesday.

    A source within the party told The Nation that “Oshiomhole is anxious to resume. But the hand over note is not ready yet. The former chairman pleaded that he be given till the end of today to finalise the hand over note. So, Oshiomhole will not be coming to the Secretariat today again. He will be here tomorrow when the hand over would be done”.

    When The Nation visited the APC national secretariat, staff were seen in high expectations awaiting the arrival of Comrade Oshiomhole, with many of them hanging around the secretariat in groups discussing the outcome of the convention.

    Those of them whose principals were not re-elected were seen clearing their desk in readiness for the arrival of the new occupants of the offices.

    Anxious journalists who reported to the secretariat in anticipation of Comrade Oshiomhole’s resumption left disappointed after waiting for several hours without any concrete information as to when the new national chairman was reporting to the secretariat.
    Campaign posters that littered the Secretariat before the election has disappeared, while congratulatory banners have taken over.

    It was however gathered that Comrade Oshiomhole held a closed door meeting with some APC governors at his residence in readiness for the task ahead.

    Comrade Oshiomhole was elected unopposed as the new national chairman of the APC at its national convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Saturday and Sunday.

  • Okorocha’s minority report causes panic in APC convention

    The Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are in a dilemma over a minority report submitted by the Chairman of the Screening Appeal Committee, Owelle Rochas Okorocha which disqualified some of the candidates that were earlier cleared by the Aminu Bello Masari led screening committee.

    The Nation learnt late Friday evening that Okorocha and one other member of the 20 man appeal committee submitted a minority report while the rest members of the committee submitted a majority report which cleared those candidates disqualified by Okorocha.

    It was gathered that the Okorocha Minority report disqualified the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu and the National Vice Chairman, South East, Emma Eneukwu.
    Okorocha has been having a running battle with Senator Izunaso over control of the party in Imo state.

    It was reliably gathered from a reliable source who is top member of the party from South-east APC that the governor, who is the chairman of the Screening Appeal committee and one other member of the panel refused to append their signatures on the main report submitted to chairman of the National Convention, governor Abubakar Badaru.

    The convention committee was said to have rejected the minority report on the ground that it can invalidate the one submitted by majority of the members of the committee.

    It was further gathered from the source that some leaders of the party from the zone have been selected to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday’s night to see whether the list of aspirants from the region could be pruned down.

    Read Also: Ministers may not participate in APC convention

    Those to meet with the President include; Former governor of Abia state Orji Uzor Kalu, Voice of Nigeria’s Director General, Osita Okechukwu, Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonayan Onu and deputy governor of Imo state Prince Eze Madumere.

    The source said: “The meeting with the president is meant to see how interest of all the group could be taken care of because Mr. President wouldn’t want to handover the party to a particular group against the other. So, the meeting became necessary.

    “Already, the South-east cannot produce consensus candidates for the positions of national Organizing Secretary, National Auditor and National Vice Chairman (Southeast).

    “Senator Osita Izunaso who is the current national organizing Secretary has been advised to withdraw from the race while Governor Rocha’s Okorocha’s candidate, Barr Emma Ibediro, will not make it because the entire South-east APC is not comfortable with any nominee brought by Okorocha,” the source stated.

    The source however said that it was however certain whether the President will be favorably disposed to receiving the south east leaders.

     

  • Okorocha boycott Southeast APC stakeholder meeting

    … Zone endorses Izunaso, two others
    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East rose from their meeting in Abuja on Thursday endorsing the return of the three members of the National Working Committee from the zone ahead of the forth coming national convention of the party.
    Imo state governor and the only APC governor in the south east, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was conspicuously absent from the meeting
    Those who were endorsed include the National Vice Chairman, South East, Emma Enukwu, National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso and the National Auditor, George Moghalu.
    Those who attended the stakeholders meeting include APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, former governor of Ebonyi State, Martins Elechi, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senators Hope Uzodinma, Ben Uwajimogu and Andy Uba.
    Others were Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Sen. Uche Ekwnuife, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, APC National Auditor, Chief Gerge Moghalu, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, APC National Vice Chairman South East, Emma Enukwu, Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwuka, Speakers and former from State Houses of Assemblies, NEC members.
    Addressing newsmen after the meeting which lasted several hours, the former governor of Abia state, Dr Orji Uzor-Kalu, said 93 percent of those who attended the meeting were in support of the return of the three officers, pointing out that the decision will be communicated to the National Convention Committee.
    “We have a very successful fruitful meeting and have decided to endorse by affirmation and through democratic means by all the states, the return of the three members of the national officers. We gave equally secured the support of the National Convention Committee chairman who is also the governor of Jigawa state.
    We have told him that they are our candidates and we did it through democratic arrangements. Few people might be very unsatisfied but in democracy, the majority about 93 per cent of the stakeholders in the  hall endorsed the arrangement.
    “Certainly, not everybody will agree. I remember when I contested as governor, not everybody voted for me. But, I told you that over 93 per cent of the stakeholders here endorsed the arrangement to retain the national officers.”
    Speaking on the crisis rocking the party in the south east, the former governor said “There must be misunderstanding in every setting but all I am assuring you is that they will all be resolved.”
    Also speaking, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnia Onu, promised that they will continue to work together with other geopolitical zones.
    “In this meeting, all those who have held important positions in politics from the South East were in attendance, former speakers, House of Representatives members; former Senate President and former governors, members of the leadership of the party.
    “Though the governor of Imo State cannot make it, the state Speaker House of Assembly is here. So, as you can see, you can see distinguished Senator Jim Nwobodo, and we have former Governor Martin Elechi, Senator Araraume here.
    “We are all working together to continue to lift the country as one Nigeria and there will be a massive improvement for the region and the country at large. We commend those who have come here to make the zone greater,” he said.

  • ‘Hold Okorocha responsible for breakdown of law and order’

    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State have asked security agents in the country to hold the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha responsible for any breakdown of law and order that may occur in the state as a result of the current political situation in the state.
    Operating under the auspices of Imo APC stakeholders Forum, the stakeholders in a statement signed by Dr. TOE Ekechi and Hon. Kingsley Ononuju accused the governor of wasting tax payers money to organize protest against the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso and the conduct of congresses.
    In the statement, the Forum said, “We wish to draw the attention of security agencies ‎and the general public to the spate of senseless protests which we believe are being sponsored by the governor of Imo State in his desperate bid to blackmail the Imo State stakeholders particularly Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso, the National Organizing Secretary of our great party.
    “We particularly draw attention to the sponsored protests of 17th and 23rd instant at APC party headquarters and SGF office respectively by hired miscreants against our coalition and Senator Osita Izunaso in particular.
    “It is shameful that the governor of Imo State can tow this path of dishonour by procuring the services of of helpless and hapless youths from Nasarawa State to foment trouble and embarrass the party. From the conduct of the so called “protesters” it was self evident that they did not even know why their services were procured.
    “The governor must therefore be called to order by well meaning Nigerians. We wish to warn that the continued sustenance of such senseless protests with Imo tax payers’ money portends very grave danger. The governor must be held fully responsible for any break down of law and order or loss of life if not now, by May 29, 2019 when his tenure surely would have expired.”

  • Appeals panel upholds Imo APC congress

    …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.”