Protest and Controversy Rock Imo APC Ahead of Local Government Primaries

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State is embroiled in controversy as stakeholders have flooded the party with protest letters over alleged imposition of aspirants and violation of zoning arrangements. The protests have led to heated debates among party faithful, with some calling for fair and equitable distribution of political positions.

In Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, the Ohaji Consultative Forum (OCF) staged a protest to the government house, accusing a former federal lawmaker, Nana GoodLuck Opiah, of trying to drag the Chairmanship position of the Council to his Egbema block. The group denied the allegations and demanded that the Chairmanship position be zoned to Ohaji block, citing the continuous occupation of the position by Egbema block since 2019.

Similar demands were made by stakeholders in Nkwere Local Government Area, who sought fair and equitable distribution of political positions between Nkwere block A and B. A stakeholder from the Council area, Chikezie Nwadike, argued that the current member representing the Council in the State House of Assembly, Chisom Ojukwu, is from Nkwere block A, and therefore, the Chairmanship position of the Council should come from block B.

Another protest letter was received from a group under the aegis of Oru North assembly, which condemned what it described as marginalization of people from Oru north, calling for the block to produce the next Chairman of the Council. The same allegations were leveled against the Apex Leader of APC in Mbaitoli LGA, Marcellinus Nlemigbo, over an alleged move to zone the Chairmanship position to Mbieri, his own political block.

In a similar vein, a group under the aegis of Amucha Consultative Forum (ACF) in Njaba LGA complained that Amucha had never tested political positions despite being one of the five autonomous communities that make up the Local Council.

The State Organizing Secretary of the APC, Ikechukwu Umeh, acknowledged receipt of the protest letters, stating that the leadership of the party was taking into consideration all the complaints. Umeh emphasized the importance of equity and justice, which he said was in line with the party’s ideologies. However, he maintained that the party was not ignorant of the fact that some of the agitators were not genuine party faithful.

Umeh stated that the party would handle the protesters accordingly, citing that most complainants were not card-carrying members of the party. He also expressed concern that some agitators had recently joined the party and were seeking tickets without regards to those who were already there.

A political analyst, Chima Isiguzo, warned that if the party failed to address some of the issues raised, it may lead to more crises. He blamed the leadership of the party for the high price it placed on purchase of forms, which he believed would lead to unhappiness among those who struggled to obtain them.

The controversy has set the stage for a heated debate in the APC ahead of the local government primaries in Imo State. It remains to be seen how the party will address the issues raised by the protesters and navigate the complex web of political interests in the state.