By Duke C. Duke

The stakeholders of All Progressive Congress (APC), Imo State, has dissociated themselves from what they call indescriminate endorsement of Hon. Uche Nwosu by few biased members of Imo APC. The stakeholders under the aegis of The Restoration Coalition, APC, Imo State in a communique released in Owerri on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 described the activities of the Rochas Okorocha’s led government as unfortunate, stating that it is capable of bringing disgrace to the party in the forth coming general elections.

The group which rejected the endorsements said that they were “obtained by blackmail, coercion and intimidation”.
Part of the communique reads

“4. However, having been seeing and witnessing contemptible, despicable and condemnable happenings in our great party in the state in recent times, we are convinced that unless urgent steps are quickly taken in calling certain people to order, the APC is headed for a shameful, abysmal and colossal failure in the state in the 2019 elections – this will tragically cut across and regrettably affect the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly chances. We sincerely, call on Governor Rochas Okorocha as the leader of the party in Imo State, to instill law, order, discipline as well promote peace and tranquility as the party gets set for the all important primaries in the state.
5. Certainly, we totally, without any reservation, condemn the clandestine Endorsements, indiscriminate Adoptions and wanton “Anointments” of certain elements in the party without due processes and without any regard to laid down procedures and respect for party leadership and discipline. It is quite disturbing that these endorsements obtained by Blackmail, Coercion and Intimidation are taking place in the hallowed orbit of the Imo State Government House under the watch of the Governor. We are embarrassed because this theatre of the absurdity, as we have confirmed, has the full backing and financial muscles of Imo State Government as the persons being endorsed, one Chief Uche Nwosu, his Son In-Law is also his serving Chief of Staff. As a matter of fact, this is an anomaly and points to a dangerous and destructive party politics of APC in Imo State. We, therefore, call our members to caution as endorsements do not frankly reflect the true picture of Imo APC. We call on Governor Owelle Okorocha to act as a true unifier, a leader to ensure a level playing field for all APC aspirants in all positions. To that effect, we reject in its entirety the endorsements of Uche Nwosu as being currently carried out in our party. This is so because these leprous endorsements have the capacity and capability of truncating and dismantling the very cord that binds us together as family. We respectfully urge Governor Okorocha to be very sensitive to the name, integrity and sanctity of Imo as an entity and the thrust, honour and dignity that go with the governorship enterprise.
6. We wish to insist that natural justice, equity, fair play and democratic norms must take their natural course as we step closer to the Imo State APC primaries and subsequently, the elections thereof. It will be politically suicidal for the Imo State Governor to emerge from Orlu zone after Governor Okorocha’s eight years rule making a total of 16 years of ORLU GOVERNORSHIP. This is improper and if imposed will be resisted by all responsible and conscientious members of the Party.”

The coalition also condemned the recent attack on Archbishop AJV Obinna, the Bishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, by some group of men purported to be working for the state government.
“It is our opinion as a party that we take exception to the insinuations emanating from the media crediting the actions to APC. That is not our Character as a Party.”, the coalition said.