A report by a group of political strategists said to be working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 has cited the lingering crisis rocking the leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the South East region, particularly in Imo State as grounds that may affect the party’s chances in the coming 2019 elections.
The group was quoted in a publication by a national daily that “unless some critical and influential” aggrieved members of the party in the zone were reconciled, it would be impossible and extremely for the party to make any meaningful in- road to the zone.
The crisis rocking the APC in Imo State where two factions are jostling for supremacy was cited as a key example. Two factions led by Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Senator Osita Izunaso, Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere respectively are fighting for the soul of the party.
The group said “making Okorocha the face of the APC in the South East” would not help Buhari’s re- election in the 2019 general election.
A recent rally called by Okorocha in Imo State attended by the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomole, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and boycotted by the party’s leaders in the zone, was a very dangerous signal for the APC.
They advised President Buhari to prevail on Oshiomole led National Working Committee of the APC not to indulge in anything that will further undermine the prosperity in the zone, especially in Imo State and for his friend, Governor Rochas Okorocha.
‘’For example, in Imo State, everything must be done not to allow Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and his group leave the party; from our findings, the group is clearly the soul of APC in Imo State’’, the group advised the president.
Imo APC has been on fire since the party held its controversial national convention which lead to factionalization of the party in Imo State.
Oshiomole had sworn in Daniel Nwafor as the new Imo State Chairman of the party, despite an Order of an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court which had restrained the party from holding fresh congress in Imo State.
