Violence, missing result sheets in Imo

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The All Progressive Congress (APC) ward congress held yesterday in Imo state was fraught with crises. From the outset, factions of the APC in Imo state disagreed over congress committee officials sent from Abuja and as a result congress did not start in Imo state until past midday and […]

The All Progressive Congress (APC) ward congress held yesterday in Imo state was fraught with crises. From the outset, factions of the APC in Imo state disagreed over congress committee officials sent from Abuja and as a result congress did not start in Imo state until past midday and in some places, much later.

This was also as incidents of violence were recorded across the state in the course of the exercise with thugs allegedly loyal to the deputy Chief of Staff, kingsley Uju and Jeff Nwaoha invaded the APC state secretariat destroying canopies, chairs and other party properties. Imo Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, Senator Ben Uwajumogu, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba, former SSG, Jude Ejiogu, Jasper Azuatalam, Business Mogul, Tony Chukwu and several other leaders of the party survived the attack on the party office largely due to their Police security details who rose to the occasion.

There was also the allegation of missing sensitive congress materials. Addressing newsmen however, the National Organizing Secretary of the APC Osita Izunaso confirmed that the delay was not exactly as a result of missing materials but arose when it was realized that congress committee officials sent from the National Secretariat in Abuja meant to conduct the congress in Imo state have been swapped with that of Anambra state, an action that heightened suspicion and distrust further stalling proceedings. He however stressed that it was a family affair as APC in Imo state remain united and committed to winning elections at all levels in the state come 2019. Also while the Abuja faction of the APC allege that some congress officials were abducted and held in government house, the government faction accuse the Abuja group of absconding with sensitive congress materials.

Ngige hails congress in Anambra

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, has expressed confidence that the successful APC ward congress in Anambra State was the beginning of the good things God has for the party in 2019. He said that the congress that took place in all parts of the state was a huge success ahead of the 2019 general elections and a positive signal for the party in its national convention. The minister said this yesterday in his country home Alor, Idemili South Local Government, where he monitored the ward delegate elections.

He commended APC members in all the wards of the state for the peaceful manner the exercise was conducted and informed the congress committee and the INEC officials that he personally went out to monitor the event and asserted that there was no case of breakdown of law and order during the process.

Ngige who called on the people to obtain their PVC at the designated centres and vote for President Muhammadu Buhari, maintained that Anambra and the entire Igbo extraction is the home to APC and APC remains the only viable option for the Igbo’s considering the success recorded by the party in just three and half years.

Stalemate in C’River

The ward congresses in Cross River State ended in stalemate on Saturday across the 18 local government councils, following the alleged refusal of the organizing committee led by Dr. Stanley Ekezie to follow transparent and due processes.

The committee reportedly arrived the state secretariat of the party late Friday and agreed to hold a meeting with stakeholders by 8.am the next day, being the congress date. But as at 4.30pm, there was confusion and uncertainty over the suggestion that the congresses be shifted to the next day. Speaking to newsmen at the hotel where the committee members were said to be lodging, the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, regretted the situation they were facing in the state.

According to him, stakeholders’ meeting was to hold by 8.am prominent members including, former Governor Clement Ebri, Senator Owan Enoh, Senator Florence Ita- Giwa, Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong and himself, among others, went to the state secretariat and waited for hours without any information from the committee. He alleged that upon a tipoff, they knew the hotel the committee members were lodging and some party officials were caught with materials believed to be the congress forms for the elections, “already filled with names of unknown persons.”

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