Disagreements in Imo APC over alleged imposition of candidates

By Chinonso Alozie 

Owerri – Tension, disagreements have continued to trail the primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the alleged imposition of candidates ahead of the council elections in the State, September 21, 2024.

It was gathered on Saturday in Owerri, that some council areas were already protesting against alleged imposition of chairmanship and counsellorship candidates in the state. 

One of the council areas now boiling over the alleged imposition of chairmanship candidate was the Oguta Council Area of Imo.

According to the stakeholders of the party under Oguta Unity Forum, through their spokesperson, Chief Kenneth Obi, said zoning arrangement was under threat in Oguta while alleging that the name of one Ifeanyi Nnani, as chairmanship candidate was against the zoning arrangement between the North and South of Oguta. 

He argued that one “Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani, who hails from Oguta North, currently holds the same region’s position in the political equation, with the present House of Assembly member also from the North. However, this has sparked dissatisfaction among party members and residents in Oguta, particularly those from Oguta South, who feel marginalized by the move.

“We are calling on the leadership of the APC in Imo State never to jettison the age-long zoning arrangement in Oguta in the interest of peace and fair play in the LGA.”

Obi said such a move was against the stand of the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, who had earlier assured party stakeholders of the importance of upholding zoning principles and promoting equity in the selection of candidates for the local government elections. Historically, the zoning arrangement ensures that when one section of the LGA produces the House of Assembly representative, the chairmanship position is given to the opposite section. This system has been regarded as a crucial element in sustaining peace and harmony in the LGA.

“The current discontent centers around the belief that the Agwa people of Oguta South, who have long been contributors to the economic well-being of the state, deserve the position of LGA chairman. Agwa alone hosts two major oil companies and is one of the leading petroleum-producing areas in Nigeria, significantly bolstering the state’s economy. Denying them this political opportunity, stakeholders argue, would be unjust and could lead to unrest.” 

Reacting, the Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed the list of chairmanship and counsellorship candidates of APC, flying on social media.

The State Chairman, MacDonald Ebere, spoke to newsmen in Owerri, through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Julian Chijioke.

However, the APC, said members of the public should wait for a list signed by the party’s leadership.

According to the statement, “Please disregard any information coming from unauthorized or unscrupulous sources at this time.

“Authentic information regarding the outcome of APC Chairmanship and Councillorship primaries in Imo State will be communicated through a _signed_ notice from the official media handles of either the Office of the State Party Chairman, Imo APC, or the State Publicity Secretary of the party. The list currently disseminated online is fake and should be disregarded.”

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