From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Despite efforts by Imo State Governor ,Hope Uzodimma, to ensure that her political party-the All Progressive Congress (APC) held a credible ward congress in the state using democratic ethos and tenets as bench mark, the need to control the soul of the party by various interest groups has cumulated into disruption of the party’s last Saturday ward congress as power tussle and factionalization became prominent.
It’s pertinent to recall that few days to the congress, two political icon of the party in the state, Senator Rochas Okorocha of Rescue Mission and Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Ararume of Destiny Organization seems to maintain sealed lips over their participation in the congress that covers 305 wards in the state.
Their conspiracy of silence gave much concerned to the Shared Prosperity government of Governor Hope Uzodimma, considering their followership in and outside the party as well as their financial war chest and their connections within and outside the political party.
Though these political heavy weights and their ardent structures seem not to have directly participated in the last Saturday’s ward congress, but indirectly they constituted the instruments of factionalization, manipulation and submission of many lists. Thus causing serious rift, confusion and unacceptance of most of the wards results.
Many of the wards The AUTHORITY covered starting from Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli,Isi-ala Mbano, Njaba and Orlu council areas the plans to harmonized the list of ward officers by the party chieftains ended in hot arguments and disagreements among the party leaders and envisaged 2023 aspirants.
Moreso, the party was in dilemma over which of the state chairmen is authentic to collect and receive the nomination forms, in view of the fact that Barr. Marcellinus Nlemigbo (Marcon) led state chairman is a product of the party’s NEC while Chief Dan Nwafor leadership draws his strength and recognition from the Court.
As it’s for now, the Congress has opened cans worm for the party and disunity has become obvious even though the Governor is expected as usual to throw in his weight and subdue every internal opposition so that him and his line-up will coast home victoriously ahead of 2023.
