By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Sequel to continuation of membership registration and revalidation exercise in Imo, Kwara, Ogun and Rivers states by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Rochas Okorocha has said things are not going fine in Imo state.
Rochas, who represents Imo West, made this statement after a meeting with APC leaders in the state at the party National Secretariat.
He said “Primarily, things are not going right in Imo state as it affects the party, we are concerned about the upcoming congresses. There are certain things that need to be put in place before the congresses, as it affects registration and others.
“There has been an issue about the elected executive of the party in the state. Elected executive have not been allowed to do their job in the state; so we are here to bring that to the attention to the party and we know our party is a law abiding party, it is the party of rule of law and we have come to ask the party to obey the court judgement that established the right executive in the state which has not been upturned by any other court, and that court judgement says that Daniel Nwafor and his executive are the authentically elected executive of the party.
“And the judgement holds that not even the NEC of this APC can dissolve them and that judgment has been there up to the Court of Appeal and there has not been any other judgement and so both the High Court of justice has shown that he is the authentic executive led by him.”
Okorocha further said the upcoming congresses might not be legal, which is why they are in the APC Secretariat to remind the party, to please obey the court judgement and ensure that the court judgement of the party stands.
“How can you have Congresses coming when the party commissioners and the likes of senator Ararume have not registered? I am not registered, the Chairman of the party is not registered and all the Honourable members”, he said.
The senator also described himself as the founding father of the ruling APC, saying “We have come a long way in building this party, I was one of the founding fathers of this party. I brought in the APGA and they are supported by the CPC and the ACN to form what we call today APC.
“I was the one who gave this name APC to this party and I was the only elected governor from the southeast that made up this party at the time that this party name was a taboo in the Southeast.
“Everybody that became anything in the party in the North came at the grace of President Muhammadu Buhari, but we from the south-east, it was a minus; the name Buhari was rather a taboo at that time when people never believed the party, but some of us came in and put a word. So the party should remember those who founded this party.”
He stressed that they joined the ruling party because of justice, adding that justice should have prevailed at all levels, hence they are in the Secretariat to remind the party, even as he prayed that the party will give them adequate attention by allowing the party leaders in the state to go and register.
Okorocha advised the party to do the needful and to obey court judgement so that the world will not see APC as a party that does not obey court judgement or respect court judgement.
