It was a day of fireworks again on Monday following the war of words that erupted between the leading lights of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC in the state over who is the authentic leader of the party in the state. This latest rumbling is yet another pointer that the struggle for the soul of the party in the state is far from being over.
Gov Rochas Okorocha, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and newest entrant into the party, Senator Hope Uzodimma had spoken
at different fora on Monday with both senators reacting to an earlier statement by Gov Okorocha concerning happenings in the party in the state.
Gov Okorocha had last Monday opened this latest verbal altercation at the Imo International Convention Centre IICC while addressing members of the party during a meeting.
Taking a swipe at Senator Uzodimma who only defected to the party few days ago, the governor had pointedly dismissed his entry into the party saying there is no way he can become a member of the party through the back door.
According to him t
senator Uzodimma entry is still a rumour as long as Imo APC is concerned as he did not follow laid down rules and procedures for joining the party as stipulated by the party constitution.
He said: ” It is insulting on the party in the state for someone to be talking about joining the party from Abuja. The procedure is that you start from your ward to your Local Government and then the State, and the state will inform the party at the national level that you are now a member. The reverse cannot be the case”
But, responding through his spokesman Barr Enyinna Onuegbu Senator Uzodimma expressed shock that Gov Okorocha who ought have welcomed him with open arms like the national leadership did for good of the party is the person attacking him.
According to him what he expected from Gov Okorocha is a hand of fellowship and partnership so that together they can change the narrative of the party in the state and South East Zone.
The statement stressed that the governors position which was also made public by his spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo was clear pointer that the governor is scared by the senators entry adding that such fears has again shown that the governor wants to be the only cook that crows in Imo APC
Also joining issues with the governor on his claim of founding and nurturing APC in the state without the support and help of the likes of Senator Uzodimma and himself, frontline guber aspirant of the party Senator Araraume who wrote on his facebook page dismissed the governors claims stating that no one person owns APC in the state.
The senator while Discountenancing Gov Okorocha’s posturing assured party members in the state that the party belongs to all of them and that whatever decision that would be taken in the party would be collectively taken.
He enjoined them to rather continue working hard for the growth of the party even as he pointed out that it was only through hardwork that the party can win in 2019.
This latest brickbat which seem to suggest that the party is now polarized into three factions according analysts is another strong pointer to the worsening internal crisis rocking the APC ahead of its highly anticipated congresses and convention.
Hitherto the speculation was that Senator Uzodimma was negotiating with Gov Okorocha on the possibility of joining the party suggesting that both men enjoyed a cordial relationship.
However, all that has now been put paid to by the governors statements last Monday which left no one in doubt that no such friendship existed.
This latest twist many argue suggests that another faction led by Senator Uzodimma has sprang up in Imo APC since none of the two hitherto camps led by Gov Okorocha and Senator Araraume has openly identified with Senator Uzodimma group and neither has he and his supporters identified with any of the feuding camps.
