Okorocha reveals those behind burning of Imo APC secretariat

Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha has reacted to the burning of the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Owerri, the state capital on Friday.

He claimed that new entrants into the party, who were opponents of his administration, sent the thugs that allegedly set the secretariat on fire.

APC chieftains opposed to Okorocha’s alleged efforts to turn Imo State government into a family business were said to have defeated the governor during last Saturday’s ward congress of the party, having their supporters emerge elected leaders at the ward level.

Among those who were said to have schemed Okorocha out during the primary included his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not long ago, and Ifeanyi Ararume, a former PDP chieftain.

The fire at the secretariat is believed to have followed the worsened crisis in Imo APC since after the ward congress.

In a statement through his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha argued that the fire may not be unconnected to the frustrations of some of the party men over the disputed ward congress in the state.

“The State Secretariat of All Progressives Congress, APC, located at Imo State University Junction, Okigwe road Owerri was this evening, Friday, May 11, 2018 set ablaze by thugs obviously working for the opponents of the administration and they had hidden under the heavy rain in Owerri at that time, to carry out the disdainful act.

READ ALSO: Troubled Imo APC postpones LG congresses, Oyo too

“It should be recalled that APC in Imo has remained a peaceful Party until the entry of those known for thuggery and carrying of ballot boxes into the party.

“Their frustration must have arisen from their inability to convince leaders of APC and Nigerians in general that they didn’t steal the sensitive materials meant for the Ward Congresses of the Party in the State last Saturday, being May 5, 2018.

“Obviously their current claims have heavily contradicted their claims on video that Saturday and thereby making it difficult for them to convince their audience that they never stole sensitive materials for the ward congresses in the state.”

 

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