Gov Okorocha suffers more defeat as S’East retains Izunaso, other APC NWC members

Political intrigues playing out in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State and the South East on Thursday continued to work against Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The latest is the decision of the zone to retain as its national officers in the APC National Working Committee (NWC), the national organising secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, the national vice chairman, Emma Eneukwu, and the national auditor, Chief George Moghalu.

The development came despite Governor Okorocha’s opposition to the decision to retain the NWC members from the zone.

Okorocha, who apparently had been out-smarted by Imo APC stakeholders in the battle for the control of the party, is said to be opposed to Izunaso, who is believed to be part of Imo APC stakeholders, continuing as the party NWC member.

At the meeting in Abuja, where the decision for Izunaso and others to continue as NWC for the zone was reached on Thursday night, Raphael Igbokwe, who represented the Imo State governor had challenged the endorsement, arguing that the positions zoned to the South East should be contested

He expressed dismay that all the 24 members of Imo state House of Assembly were shut out of the meeting.

According to him, the chairman of convention has been urged to allow a level playing ground for the contest of the position of national organising secretary which has been zoned to Imo State, adding that Emma Ibejiro has been penciled down to contest the position at the convention.

But former Abia State governor and chieftain of APC, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who addressed newsmen after the meeting said, “We had a very successful and fruitful meeting and have decided to endorse by affirmation from all the states, the return, through democratic means, of the three members of the national officers.

“We have 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.”

Responding on how the stakeholders would reconcile the aggrieved ones, he said, “Certainly, not everybody will agree. I remember when I contested as governor, not everybody voted for me. But I told you over 93 per cent of the stakeholders here endorsed the arrangement.”

The Minster of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who also reacted at the outcome of the meeting said, “In this meeting, all those who have held important positions in politics, from the South East were in attendance – former speaker, House of Representatives; former Senate President and former governors, members of the leadership of the party.

READ ALSO: Those fighting me in Imo APC are angered by my anti-corruption stance— Okorocha

“Though the governor of Imo state cannot make it but the Imo State Speaker House of Assembly is here. So, as you can see, you can see distinguished Senator Jim Nwobodo, and we have former Gov. Martins 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.”

Tagged “South East Executive Committee Meeting: Towards 2018 National Convention” the meeting had Izunaso, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, 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 in attendance.

Also present were the 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, APD National Vice Chairman South East, Emma Enukwu and many others.

 

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