Okorocha, Ararume, others storm APC secretariat 

By TONY EZIMAKOR

Senator Owelle Rochas Okorocha has urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to obey the Appeal Court decision on the leadership of the party in Imo State which declared Chief Dan Nwafor as chairman of Imo APC.

The former governor of Imo state made the remark when he led top chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) from Imo State to the party’s national Secretariat Tuesday evening, asking the party to obey the judgement of the Appeal Court that has not been set aside.

He said that failure to abide by the ruling of the court would position the party as a lawless entity and constitute to nullity all other activities of the party in the state, including the membership registration and revalidation exercise.

On the entourage of the former governor was Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Uche Nwosu, Chief Enwerem, Hon Ugonna Uzuruigbo, Jude Ejiogu, Hon Paschal Obi, Dr Chidinma Uwajumogu, Barr Steve Asimobi, Chief Stanley Nzekwe, amongst others.

Okorocha lamented that APC which benefited from the ruling of the court in Imo should not be seen to disobey the court. He added that the APC has also not shown any consideration for its founding members.

“We are here because of what is happening in Imo state. Primarily, things are not going right in the state as it affects the party. We are concern about the upcoming congresses. Certain things need to be put in place before Congress as it affects registration and others.

“There has been an issue about the elected excos of the party in the state. The elected excos have not been allowed to function. We are here to bring the party’s attention to it. And we know that our party is a law-abiding party.

“A party of rule of law. We have come to ask the party to obey the court judgement that established the right excos in the state which has not been upturn by any court. That court judgement said Daniel Nwafor led exco is the authentic and elected member of the exco. And the judge ruled that not even the NEC of the APC can dissolve.

“And the judgement has been there up to the court of appeal. And there has not been any other court judgement. High, appeal court judgement has shown that the authentic exco is led by him. And without him, the Congresses will be illegal. We have come to remind the party as a law-abiding party to please obey the court judgement. And ensure that the court judgement on the party stands.

“We have come a long way in building this party. I was one of the founding fathers of the party. I brought in APGA with CPC and ACN to form what was known today as APC. I was the one who gave the name APC.

“I was the only elected governor from the South East that made up this party. At a time when this party’s name was taboo in the south East. Everybody that became anything in the North came in the favor of President Muhammadu Buhari. But we from the South East sees the name Buhari as taboo at that time. Most people never believe in the party

Okorocha said the party has excluded its founding members in the run to the coming congresses of APC.

“The party should be seen to remember those who founded the party. We join the party because of justice. And it must be seen to prevail all the time at all levels. We are here to remind the party and we pray that the party will give it adequate attention that it deserves by first and foremost, allow the leaders of the party to go and register.

“How can you have a congress coming without having the leaders like Senator Ararume, Chairman of the party are not registered yet? We have five Hon members at the party and they are here. If the five members here are not registered, what are we talking about? We are here to advise the party to do the needful. And obey the court judgment so that the world will not see our party as a party that doesn’t obey court judgment or respect court judgment.

Senator Rochas Okorocha maintained that the party’s membership registration and validation exercise has not taken place in Imo State.

“As far as we are a concern, there is nothing like that taking place. There is no registration. And once there is nothing like that, we have not seen that in the field. People want to register. There is an elected exco supported by the court of appeal judgment who are supposed to be in charge of the delegation to conduct the Congress. That is why you are seeing many people who have not registered. There is no registration going on in Imo state as far as I am concerned.

“So we have come to ask the party to correct this and recognize the people so elected and back up by the court to allow them to go and do their work. Imo is naturally APC. If, not, we won as APC when PDP was in government in the Federal. So what is difficult for the party when it is in power in Federal? The point we are saying is that the right thing should be done in the state as it stands. (Daily Independent)