APC Factions Trade Tackles, As Okorocha, Uzodimma Disagree Over Whose Faction Is Authentic
Another round of disagreement ensued at the weekend between the two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, each claiming authentic leadership of the state chapter of the party.
The two factions are the Daniel Nwafor-led executive, which is loyal to former Governor Rochas Okorocha and the MacDonald Ebere-led faction loyal to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
A statement issued by Publicity Secretary of the Ebere-led faction, Cajetan Duke, asked Okorocha to resign over what it termed poor performance and his penchant for distracting Uzodimma from delivering good governance and dividends of democracy to the Imo people.
But the Nwafor-led group claimed that Okorocha remained the authentic APC leader in the state, citing several courts judgments in its favour.
It demanded that the group loyal to Uzodimma should desist from impersonation and apologise for asking Okorocha to resign from the Senate.
In a statement issued by Acting Publicity Secretary of the Nwafor-led executive, Michael Anyanwu, it said: “Duke’s statement in which it asked a representative of Imo West Senatorial District, Okorocha to resign is offensive and we urge him to retract it and apologise immediately to our leader and co-founder of the party.”
Citing the various court’s judgments in their favour, it insisted that the verdict delivered in several courts “ratified this fact and ruled that not even the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party can dissolve the Nwafor-led executive in Imo State until our tenure ends.”
It cautioned those it described as impersonators, adding: “We have come a long way in building the party in Imo State and wish to admonish impersonators to desist from parading themselves illegally or face prosecution.”
However, the Ebere-led faction gave Okorocha the option of resigning, accusing him of alleged incompetence and poor performance.
“Imo people have had enough of Okorocha and his family members, who they consider as unfit to occupy any public office in the country given their poor performance in the state,” the statement reads.
The statement cited the former governor’s recent comments in a television interview in which he castigated Uzodimma, stressing: “Our party condemns Okorocha’s attempt to vilify the governor, with wild claims and allegations of hate and vehemence.
“Instead of presenting himself as good presidential material, Okorocha is rubbishing himself by trying to tarnish Uzodimma’s image with lies, unsubstantiated accusations and fabrications like the alleged Hope Strike Force.
“We are aware that Okorocha is a master of ostrich politics and grandstanding, which he used to deceive Imo people for eight years, but this time, he has failed,” the statement added.
