…Warn against blackmail of key stakeholders
A major crisis is reportedly engulfing the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, as party leaders raise serious concerns over the alleged alteration of the authentic list of ward executives produced during the recently concluded congress. The controversy centers on claims that the names of duly elected executives across the 14 wards have been unlawfully replaced with those of unfamiliar individuals, including persons who are reportedly not even members of the party.
Party leaders allege that the substituted list now features individuals linked to opposition platforms such as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Action Peoples Party, APP.
They warned that such a development, not only undermines the credibility of the congress but also poses a grave danger to the stability and grassroots cohesion of the APC in Ideato North, where party structures have long been sustained by loyal members.
The situation has sparked outrage among stakeholders who participated in the consensus process and emerged as ward executives. Many of them insist that they remain the legitimate custodians of the party structure at the grassroots and have vowed to resist what they describe as a calculated attempt to sideline them. There are growing threats of mass defections, with several aggrieved members warning that continued injustice and disregard for due process could force them to abandon the party.
At the center of the unfolding controversy is allegedly Mrs. Kate Osigwe, the serving Executive Vice Chairman of Ideato North LGA, who party leaders accuse of masterminding the alleged substitution. They further allege that she was previously accused of diverting funds meant for the governorship election in her ward, a development they say raises serious questions about her commitment to the party’s success. Party leaders contend that her actions have not only deepened internal divisions but have also eroded trust within the APC, especially given claims that she could not deliver her own polling unit for the party during the last governorship election.
More troubling, according to party leaders, is a pattern of misinformation, intimidation, and blackmail allegedly deployed against perceived rivals. Several stakeholders claim that Mrs. Osigwe frequently labels long-standing party members as “newcomers” or “double agents” in a deliberate attempt to discredit, isolate, and edge them out of the party structure. They insist that this narrative is false and dangerously misleading, designed to create suspicion and factionalize the party. Party leaders also warn that such tactics not only poison internal relationships but also weaken the APC’s grassroots strength by pushing away loyal members who have built the party over the years.
In a constituency widely regarded as opposition-leaning, party leaders also express deep concern that instead of embracing and converting new entrants into the APC fold, Mrs. Osigwe is allegedly creating an atmosphere of fear and exclusion that discourages participation. They argue that her approach is counterproductive, noting that no single individual can constitute or sustain a political party. According to them, by alienating both existing members and potential converts, she is effectively shrinking the party’s base at a time when expansion and inclusivity are most critical for electoral success.
The crisis is said to be further exacerbated by the alleged backing of a former party candidate, whose electoral outing in 2023, party leaders note, yielded victory in only one polling unit. They argue that despite this poor performance, he is now central to the ongoing turmoil, allegedly working in concert to fuel tension, spread claims that party primaries have already been concluded, and project the impression that key tickets have been predetermined. Party leaders describe this as a dangerous form of political blackmail capable of misleading party faithful and destabilizing the internal democratic process.
Insiders caution that unless urgent steps are taken to address the grievances and restore the authentic ward structures, the APC risks a significant political fallout in Ideato North. With the specter of defections looming and internal confidence rapidly eroding, party leaders are calling on the state leadership and Governor Hope Uzodinma to intervene decisively, uphold internal democracy, and prevent what could become a far-reaching crisis with serious electoral consequences.
