Gov Rochas Okorocha has called the bluff of the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC led by Chief John Odigie Oyegun insisting that the inauguration of Chief Hillary Eke as the sate chairman of the party is in contravention of a subsisting court order.
Against this backdrop the state government it seems is continuing its recognition and funding of the faction led by Mr. Chris Oguoma which it recently put in place as the acting state executive of the party.
Making the feelings of the government public in a press briefing yesterday the government recognized factional chairman, Mr. Oguoma condemned what he called the “purported inauguration” of Chief Eke by the national chairman of party, Chief Odigie Oyegun saying the action of NWC is in total contravention of a subsisting and legitimate court order.
Speaking to journalists at the party’s state secretariat, Owerri, the acting state chairman, Hon. Oguoma described the action of swearing in Chief Eke as highly contemptuous adding that it has no backing from the party.
He contended that since no other court has vacated the Federal High Court order restraining the party from holding any congress pending the conduct of ward congresses, “the party is a law abiding organization shall continue to respect the order of the court until same is vacated”.
Oguoma said Chief Eke should be held responsible for deliberate infraction of a court order.
He recalled that Chief Eke was suspended as the chairman of the party in the state on May 14, 2018 by the State Working Committee, SWC after “he granted a press conference where he lied that ward congress held across the state on May 5, 2018 while there was no congress anywhere in Imo State, which statement is contrary to an earlier statement made by him”.
While describing the swearing in as not only condemnable but laughable, Oguoma recalled “On May 18, 2018, some of our aggrieved ward chairmen approached the Court and secured an interim order restraining the party from going on with the its congress in Imo State and ordered that the status quo be maintained”.
He therefore urged all party members in the state “to ignore this madness and continue to be steadfast”, while assuring them that all party activities, including the preparation for the forthcoming council elections were still ongoing.
In a telephone chat Chief Theodore Ekechi, one of the leading lights of the allied coalition dismissed Oguoma’s position saying this was not the first time the government and it’s agents would be talking about court order.
He stressed that congresses and Convention are not conducted by the state secretariats of parties but is the exclusive rights of the national secretariat adding that it is the same authority which swears in elected officials.
He queried why Mr Oguoma who claims to be APC chairman did not attend the South East mini Convention in Abuja pointing out that his absence means both Gov Rochas Okorocha and himself know he is operating illegally.
To the ex Imo information commissioner Oguoma and co are clowning just to deceive those they can deceive as the issues of congresses have been done and settled.