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Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • Okorocha to court: retrieve my certificate of return from INEC

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him with a certificate of return as the Senator- elect for Imo West Senatorial District.

    Okorocha was announced winner of the February 23 senatorial election as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo West senatorial district.

    The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Francis Ibeawuchi, declared Okorocha as the winner of the poll, having polled 97,762 votes ahead of his closest rival, Jones Onyereri of the People’s Democratic Party, who was said to have scored 68,117 votes.

    INEC however declined to issue Okorocha with a certificate of return on the grounds that the results were announced by its official under duress.

    In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/296/2019, filed for Okorocha by his lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), the plaintiff wants the court grant an order compelling the INEC to issue him a certificate of return as the validly elected Senator for Imo West Senatorial District.

    READ ALSO: ‘Issue Okorocha his Certificate of Return’

    Okorocha, in the suit with INEC as sole defendant, argued that, having been declared winner of the election, INEC has no power to withhold his Certificate of return.

    When the case came up on Wednesday, the court included Onyeriri and that the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the election, Senator Osita Izunaso as the second and third defendants in the suit.

    While Nwafor Orizu appeared for Senator Izunaso, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) announced appearance for Onyeriri. Mrs. Wendy Kuku represented INEC.

    In view of the inclusion of Onyeriri and Izunaso as parties to the suit, Justice Taiwo Taiwo directed the plaintiff to amend the originating processes to reflect the new parties.

    Justice Taiwo equally directed the defendants to file and serve their processes within 10 days, while lawyer to the plaintiff file and serve his response within three days.

    The judge then adjourned to April 5 for the hearing of all pending applications and the substantive suit.

  • You lack capacity to govern Imo, Okorocha fires Ihedioha

    Imo State governor,  Rochas Okorocha, on Sunday said that the governor-elect, Chief Emeka Ihedioha lacks the capacity to govern a “complex” state like Imo.

    The Imo governor who was reacting to the allegation by the governor-elect that the state government withdrew N17 billion shortly after the governorship election,  stated that he (Ihedioha) has never had any corporate experience apart from being a professional politician.

    He described the allegation as frivolous and cheap blackmail.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo in a statement,  stated that,  “Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who was announced the winner of the governorship election in the State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been making careless media statements and unfounded allegations, including the N17billion he said the government had withdrawn and the threat to recover what he called “Imo Property” from the governor.

    “He had earlier given directives to Financial Institutions in the State against further transactions with the State government. Chief Ihedioha does not have the mental or intellectual Capacity to govern a highly endowed State like Imo. The guy is just smart politically. And Political Smartness is different from having the Capacity for Leadership or governance”.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Ihedioha: Get sworn in before issuing directives

    It continued that, “he can not measure up with Governor Rochas Okorocha’s amazing achievements in the State. And he is only laying the foundation for excuses to Imo people why he will fail as their governor.

    “He was contentiously declared winner on Tuesday. And on Thursday he came up with the allegation of the government withdrawing N17billion. He never mentioned how the withdrawal was made whether it was withdrawn cash or through transfer. And where in Imo State, with meager Federal allocation and IGR can one see N17billion to withdraw? Like we said earlier, he is not an intelligent guy. He can’t cope with the challenges of governance”

    It added that, “He (Ihedioha) is coming to be governor with the only income he made at the National Assembly because prior to his going to the National Assembly he never did any paid job and he is trying now to blackmail a man adjudged to be the highest property owner both in Owerri and in Abuja several years before coming for governor.

    “He has not said anything about free education, Urban Renewal and several other sensitive people-oriented programmes and policies of the Rescue Mission Government in the State. He is only talking about money and property. It is going to be interesting. A man who failed as a member of the House of Representatives won’t do magic as a governor.

    “He should also know that with what Governor Okorocha has achieved, Imo people won’t entertain any excuse from him. If he likes let him talk about Rochas Okorocha from now till when he will leave as governor. The die is cast. Action speaks louder than words. Blackmail or propaganda which the PDP invested heavily in during the 12years they governed the State have become old-fashioned in the State at the moment.

    “Nigerans in general and Imo people in particular should ignore him whenever he comes up with such gimmicks. After May 29, 2019 he has every right to probe even the food Rochas Okorocha and the family ate in Government House from 2011 to 2015. Ihedioha won’t make a good governance”.

     

     

     

  • Pro-Buhari group cautions INEC over Okorocha’s Certificate of Return

    The Southeast chapter of the Presidential Support Committee (PSC) and the South East Professionals have cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against creating constitutional crisis by refusing to issue Certificate of Return to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha after being declared winner of the Imo West Senatorial election.

    In a statement jointly signed by Emeka Ugwu Esq and Comrade, the groups accused INEC of assuming the investigative role of the Police and the Court by finding the governor guilty without opportunity for fair hearing.

    According to the statement, “we have observed with keen interest the emerging political crisis and constitutional infraction emanating from the National Assembly elections and the Governorship elections, held on the 23rd day of February and the 9th day of March 2019 respectively. We intend to respond to the unconstitutionality and the illegality of the acts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”:

    It continued that,  “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the 23rd February, 2019 declared H.E Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, through its Returning Officer, Professor Innocent Ibeabuchi, as winner, Imo West Senatorial District Election 2019 in the presence of all the Security Agencies and other Political Party Agents”.

    The groups contended that, “under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Electoral Act, INEC lacks the power to withhold Certificate of Return in an election duly declared in line with the laws of the land or cancel an election that met the minimum requirement of the law.

    “It is unfortunate that INEC has arrogated to itself the investigative powers of the Nigeria Police and other security Agencies, and the judiciary, by assuming the jurisdiction to illegally and unlawfully investigate the unfounded allegations of Prof. Innocent Ibeabuchi, who is alleged to be an Agent of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “It is quite worrisome that Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu (the Resident Electoral Commissioner) and Prof. Francis Otunta (the Returning Officer) could be used to cause havoc in Imo State by purportedly declaring Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha winner of the Governorship election without fulfilling the requirement of Section 179 (2 &3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    The statement argued further that  “the provisions of Section 179 (2&3) are clear and unambiguous, and any declaration made in breach of that section is unconstitutional, illegal, fraudulent, and cannot stand. That the fraudulent calculated and premeditated acts of the two Professors are targeted with the criminal intent to deliver Imo State to PDP.

    Read Also: Rivers: PDP tells INEC to declare its candidate winner

    “That from the results purportedly declared, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha did not meet the minimum requirement of Section 179 (2&3) as he did not secure the mandatory 25% votes casts in 18 out of the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State. Rt. Hon. Ihedioha only secured 13 local Government Areas Only.

    ” We are hereby calling on the National Chairman of INEC to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, and equally calling on the security agencies to investigate the two Professors, and possibly prosecute them for the act of criminality, which is capable of inciting public unrest.

    “Imo State citizens are law abiding and should be allowed to freely elect their leaders. We therefore warn those inciting these criminal acts to desist henceforth from attacking the sensibilities of Imo Citizens.

    “Finally, we call on INEC, as a matter of urgency, to issue a Certificate of Return to H.E. Owelle Rochas Okorocha as Senator-Elect, Imo West Senatorial District; and to conduct a runoff election in line with Section 179 (4) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the event INEC refuses to do the needful by end of business Monday the 18th day of March, 2019, the streets of the five States of the South East will be lawfully occupied”.

     

     

  • Okorocha to Ihedioha: Get sworn in before issuing directives

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has cautioned the state Governor-elect, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, to desist from giving directives to financial institutions in the state over their dealings with the state government.

    Okorocha issued the caution in a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Friday,

    He described the directive by Ihedioha in Owerri on Thursday as “unfortunate and a sign of ugly things to come “.

    He advised the governor-elect to be patient and wait until he was sworn in before issuing directives to financial institutions.

    The governor said that “there is a government in place and until May 29, 2019, that government should continue to work in the interest of the state and her people and also continue to carry out programmes and policies for the same purpose.

    “To begin to harass or give directives to financial institutions in the state is an act of hostility. Financial Institutions in the state should disregard such directive and continue to do the right thing and take the right action.

    “The best that the governor-elect can do is to confront the outgoing government when he takes over on any financial transaction he has reservations at.”

    Ihedioha had urged financial institutions in the state not to engage in new transactions with the government and warned that anyone who engaged in such transactions did so at their own risk. (NAN)

  • 100 senators-elect, 338 House members get certificates of return

    EXCEPT the court decides otherwise, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha will not represent the Imo West Senatorial District when the Ninth National Assembly is inaugurated on June 8.

    He was not among the senators presented with Certificates of Return (CoRs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja yesterday.

    INEC had said it was not going to recognise the Imo governor as the senator-elect over claims by the Returning Officer (RO)that he announced Okorocha as winner of the February 23 National Assembly election under duress.

    Following the RO’s report, INEC placed an embargo on Okorocha’s victory at the poll.

    The governor and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, have been suspended by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for alleged anti-party activities.

    They backed the candidates of other parties against the APC’s in the March governorship election. Okorocha backed his son-in-law Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) against APC’s Senator Hope Uzodinma. Amosu supported Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) against Prince Dapo Abiodun, who won the poll.

    INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu called for the reveiw of the electoral law ahead of the next general elections in 2023.

    In his opening remarks at the presentation of the CoRs, Prof. Yakubu noted that the commission will soon begin a review of the 2019 polls.

    He said: “As a matter of urgency, the commission will begin work on post-2019 elections review and road map to 2023.

    “There is a lot of work but very little time available. As a process governed by law, the success of election in Nigeria depends to a large extent, on the electoral legal framework and, most importantly, in ensuring adherence to the law.

    “I want to assure you that we will continue to work with the National Assembly to review and strength on our electoral law.

    Read also: Tribunal grants Buhari, APC access to poll items

    “But, I want to appeal to the senators-elect to please start work early and conclude work on electoral framework in a good time well ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    “The tendency to delay electoral reform, particularly the review of electoral framework until it is too close to the elections,  leave the commission with little time to deveop processes, including regulations and guidelines, make required consultations with stakeholders, embark on effective voter education, including sensitisation, train staff and organise deployment for the elections.

    “I am glad that among the senators-elect are senators that we have worked very closely with and some of them have taken initiative or even sponsore private member bills to advance the cause of electoral reform.”

    INEC also issued certificates to all elected members of the House of Representatives.

    Some of them promised to give their best in representing their constituents.

    One of them, Ahmed Maje, a fourth time member of the House of Representatives, representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State (APC), pledged better representation for his constituency.

    Yemi Adaramodu, a former Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor, elected to represent APC Ekiti South Federal Constituency, described his election as a call to greater responsibility.

    He said: “I am going to ensure that empowerment of our youth and women are given priority ,” Adaramodu said.

    Mrs. Blessing Onuh, elected member (All Progressives Grand Alliance (Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency of Benue State, said she would empower women and ensure access to education for youths.

    Onuh is former Senate President David Mark’s daughter.

     

  • There is a plot to cripple me politically, Okorocha cries out

    IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha believes he was denied the Certificate of Return as the senator for the Imo West Senatorial District to cripple him politically ahead of 2023.

    He also said that the “gang-up” against his preferred governorship candidate in the March 9 election, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA), was part of the grand plot.

    The governor accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State of acting a script which he described as being cruel.

    Speaking with reporters at the Imo Governor’s Lodge in the Asokoro Area of Abuja, Okorocha said he was sure that denying him the certificate “is aimed at ensuring that he does not become one of the principal officers of the Senate when it is inaugurated.”

    According to him, he was awaiting an explanation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on why he was not invited for the collection of the certificate by senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect.

    He said: “The law stipulates that once a candidate has been declared winner, he must receive his certificate or return.

    “I am sure I was conspicuously absent from the certificates issuance ceremony. I was not there because INEC has removed my name from the list of senators having been declared the winner by the zonal returning officer.

    “So, I am actually waiting to hear why INEC struck my name out. I think probably, INEC must be trying to do something special because I understand once results have been declared and returns made then you are bound to be issued a certificate of return.

    “But to have exempted me, I am in the dark as to what was the reason I was not invited to collect my certificate of return. Maybe, INEC would want to organise a special programme for me to hand over this certificate of return because clearly, I won and it was a peaceful election, the best you can ever think of.

    “I am told from the grapevine that it was because of duress. In other words, somebody must have coerced the returning officer to do what he was not supposed to do but here again; I do not understand what that means because there was nothing of such.

    “How can you put somebody under duress to declare you the winner of an election that you have already won? And look, they are not saying that we did not win. They are not saying that the other man won.

    “So, I do not understand why we should be the people forcing someone to do something wrong to claim victory. It is not true but I must let the world understand that this is a game that is being played.”

     

  • I have been vindicated by APC’s loss, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said the outcome of the governorship election has justified his position on Senator Hope Uzodinma, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to Okorocha, his earlier warning that Uzodimma was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and planted as a mole to destroy APC’s chances in the election, was confirmed during the election.

    He said Uzodinma, being among the first set of people to rush to the home of the PDP candidate after he was declared winner, confirmed the pact he had with the PDP.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, reads: “We have been vindicated over our repeated claim that Chief Hope Uzodinma has remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both in spirit and in body, and that it was wrong for the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to have handed over the governorship ticket to him, no matter the deal.

    “We maintained that Chief Uzodinma was just a mole in the APC. Today, the governorship election and its outcome have obviously vindicated us.

    “Beside Uzodinma working for the PDP, he was one of the first people to celebrate with the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, after he was announced winner. The video of Uzodinma’s celebrating with Ihedioha has gone virile on the social media.

    “Uzodinma succeeded through Adams Oshiomhole by ensuring that only his supporters were included in the list of party agents given to INEC, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, insisted on the list, just to ensure the success of their conspiracy.

    “Their target was to destroy APC in the Southeast and in Imo in particular, thereby authenticating claims in some quarters that it is all about 2023. One therefore wonders how Oshiomhole feels today, seeing the only APC state in the southeast before he became chairman, taken over by the PDP.

    “We also sustained the contention that Imo people would not vote for Uzodinma because they know him very well, but Oshiomhole refused to listen. He came fourth and never showed that he took part in the election. Posterity and history will judge Oshiomhole and Uzodinma for APC’s fate in the Southeast, especially in Imo State.”

    But Uzodinma described Okorocha’s allegations as unfounded and malicious.

    Uzodinma, who spoke through his media aide, Mbadiwe Emelumba, said Okorocha’s claim was a ploy to tarnish his image after working against the APC.

    “Okorocha is in the habit of lying to tarnish people’s image, but it was he who worked against APC from the beginning,” he noted.

  • Scores wounded as party Agents disrupt collation of results in Imo

    The final Collation of the results of the governorship election in Imo State was disrupted in the early hours of Monday by party agents.

    Trouble started at about 5.10am when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Agent, Uche Onyeocha prevented the Returning Officer in charge of Ideato South Council Area from announcing the result.

    Ideato South is the home Local Government Area of the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and a major stronghold of the Action Alliance.

    Before the altercation, results of ten Local Government Areas had already being announced, with PDP and AA winning five LGAs each.

    He alleged that the result was padded and cannot be accepted. All entreaties by the State Resisent Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, to allow the Collation to continue were rebuffed by the viciously angry PDP Agent, who tore the result sheets placed on the table.

    At that point, other party agents pounced on him and there was a free for all. Journalists and other observers, who were monitoring the Collation, scampered to safety as the Police and other security agents tried to calm the situation.

    The melee consequently sparked heavy fighting among the supporters of the various political parties that were camped around the INEC office throught the night.

    Scores were wounded and several vehicles vandalised. As at the time of filling this report, the Collation has been suspended, while the party Agents for the PDP, Uche Onyeocha and Action Alliance (AA),  Steve Asimobi were arrested and whisked away by Policemen to an unknown location.

  • Anti-party godfatherism

    In a display of crude godfatherism, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha shamelessly supported the governorship candidates of political parties different from theirs in the March 9 governorship election. It remains to be seen how their disloyalty will benefit the candidates they backed.

    Amosun and Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had clearly carried godfatherism too far. It wasn’t surprising that their party decided to punish them. It was surprising that the party delayed the punishment till March 1 when its National Working Committee (NWC) suspended the governors “for anti-party activities.” In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the NWC “has also taken a decision to recommend the expulsion of the suspended individuals to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.”

    The APC statement stated that “the NWC had earlier written to the suspended governors on their anti-party activities, and several other steps were taken to ensure they desist from taking actions that are inimical to the interests of our party and candidates. Notably, these individuals have not shown any remorse and actually stepped up their actions.”  The party accused the suspended governors of “serial anti-party activities,” and “noted how the suspended members have continued to campaign openly for other parties and candidates that are unknown to our great party. They have in fact constituted themselves as opposition to APC candidates in their respective states.”

    At the APC presidential campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on February 11, Amosun had openly opposed his party.  “You know what to do when it is March 2nd, but please honour me on February 16 and vote for our father, President Muhammadu Buhari,” he had said to his supporters, referring to the governorship election, which was moved to  March 9,  and the presidential election, which was moved to February 23.

    Amosun refused to recognise Dapo Abiodun as the APC’s governorship candidate. Abiodun had defeated Amosun’s preference, Adekunle Akinlade, in the APC primary, leading to Akinlade’s exit from the party and his candidacy on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

    Curiously, Amosun, whose second term ends this year, defied his party by endorsing Akinlade for governor, but chose to run for senate on the APC platform. Interestingly, Amosun won the senate race. Amosun was free to support Akinlade, but it was absurd that he did so at the expense of Abiodun, his party’s candidate. No rationalisation can make this rational.

    There were levels of drama at the January 29 APC presidential campaign rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The party’s chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had presented the APC governorship candidate, saying, “Senator Hope Uzodinma will win and restore good governance in Imo. APC will win in Imo State.”

    Remarkably, Okorocha’s son-in-law and Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu, was at the APC rally. Okorocha wants Nwosu to succeed him, and had said so loud and clear. Okorocha, who has also won a senate seat on the platform of APC, supported Muhammadu  Buhari for president and Nwosu for governor. Nwosu had defected to AA from APC after failing to get what he wanted.  The state chapter of AA had endorsed Buhari, and promised to secure one million votes for him in the presidential election.

    Buhari obviously needed all the votes he could get. His re-election campaign was a serious matter and he meant business.  Perhaps this explains why he dramatically asked his party members to vote for a candidate of their choice in the Imo State governorship election, and not necessarily the APC governorship candidate.

    A report of the APC rally said: “President Buhari, who broke his silence on the crisis rocking the party since the party’s governorship primaries, urged APC members to vote for any candidate of their choice across party lines irrespective of inter or intraparty squabbles.”

    This means Buhari and Oshiomhole were not on the same page regarding who APC members should vote for in the Imo governorship poll. This also means Buhari and Okorocha may be on the same page concerning the governorship election. Obviously, Okorocha doesn’t want the APC governorship candidate to win.  He wants the AA governorship candidate to win. Though Buhari stopped short of endorsing another party’s governorship candidate, his non-partisanship was odd because he was expected to endorse his party’s governorship candidate. The rally was a partisan event. In partisan politics, there is no room for non-partisanship.

    When Okorocha first publicly expressed his preference for Nwosu, who was the Chief of Staff, Government House, he had said:  ”Uche Nwosu is hardworking and never gets tired. He is a very humble young man. Not proud. Not arrogant. So, power won’t enter his head. In spite of the position he occupies you can’t see him quarreling with anybody or maltreating anybody. He does not segregate against anybody whether from Orlu or Owerri or Okigwe zone… I have checked him in and out; I have not found him wanting… The young man is a team player, who does not use his office to molest anybody. He has the qualities of a good leader.”

    Okorocha added: “You see, you don’t hide a good product. And the joy of every leader is to have a worthy successor. You don’t mind political opportunists. We have done very well as a government and we should be concerned about what happens to the achievements after.”

    Amosun and Okorocha have shown that they are birds of a feather when it comes to their thinking on succession. Believing they must pick their successors at any cost, they seem desperate to remain in power after their tenure.  It is contrived continuity.

    If their governorship favourites win because of their support, it will be a Pyrrhic victory for the governors.  By their anti-party activities, Amosun and Okorocha showed an arrogant contempt for party supremacy. Their suspension and possible expulsion from the APC is bad for their image and good for party supremacy.

    Having been elected to the senate, it is a cause for concern that these dishonourable politicians will sit in the Red Chamber pretending to be men of honour.

  • Okorocha accuses Oshiomhole of lawlessness

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari in what he called the “acts of lawlessness perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole”.

    The governor, who was apparently referring to his suspension and that of his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, by the APC National Working Committee, noted that “President Buhari is too decent and cannot be part of Mr. Oshiomhole’s appetite for lawlessness, especially in running the affairs of the APC”.

    Okorocha said: “Adams Oshiomhole has done so many strange things with the party and it would be wrong for anybody to think that President Buhari known for his penchant for decency, honesty and forthrightness would be on the same page with the National Chairman.

    “The National Chairman has told the world that he wants to ensure party’s supremacy and he has been doing so to the best of his ability, because from all indications, he has his own idea of party’s supremacy.

    “Oshiomhole’s idea of party’s supremacy could be the purported suspension of two governors on the platform of the party few days after the presidential and National Assembly elections in which the party did well without any contribution from him.

    “The President was voted by Nigerians across the geo-political zones because he has proved to be real and can be trusted. When he said I am fighting corruption, you see it happening. It cannot be the same thing with someone who sold the tickets of the party to the highest bidders.

    “We are yet to see any Nigerian living, who would have defeated President Buhari in that election. He has earned the confidence and trust of most Nigerians, and in states where he lost, you could see traces of wanton manipulation and mutilation of election figures like in the case of Imo.

    “In other words, the President has nothing to do with Oshiomhole’s disdain for the right actions and the chairman’s penchant for lawlessness and total disregard for the party’s constitution.”