Barely 24 hours to the presidential and National Assembly elections, elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, have accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of working against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the state.
But, in a swift reaction to the allegation, the governor accused the Imo APC governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma and other unnamed chieftains of the party in the South East, of sabotaging the president, instead, by campaigning against him.
TheAPC elders alleged that while Okorocha publicly mouthed support for Buhari, his supporters in the Action Alliance (AA), where his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, is pursuing his governorship ambition, were working for the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Chairman of the elders, Chief Edward Onyebuchi, alleged that the governor is working for the failure of the APC candidates in the state; which invariably would affect Buhari’s votes.
A source close to the state government revealed that the plot was to ensure that it is only in Orlu zone, where Okorocha is the party’s senatorial candidate, that the APC would win the presidential and National Assembly elections. According to him, in Okigwe and Owerri zones, the plan is to make APC lose the elections, on Saturday, so that it would be clear to all that the party won only in Orlu zone because of the governor.
Onyebuchi, who confirmed his group was aware of the plot, which, according to him, has been on for two weeks, said: “Okorocha has repeatedly told everyone, who cares to listen, that he is ready to do anything, including spilling his own blood, to make his son-in-law governor. He is openly campaigning against the APC in Imo State. So, are you surprised that he is hatching this plan?
“The aim is to send a clear message to the APC; president Buhari, Adams Oshiomhole and Uzodinma, that Owelle is in charge in Imo State, and that APC won in Orlu zone alone because of him and not Uzodimma, who is from the same zone.
“Once Okorocha wins in Orlu and AA senatorial candidates win in the other two zones, then, Uche Nwosu’s election for governorship can be accompanied.”
However, he said Uzodinma, party elders and chieftains are not leaving anything to chance, hence, they have been campaigning vigorously.
When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, said Okorocha is working for the APC senatorial candidate for Owerri zone, Emma Ojinere, but can never work for Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu of Okigwe zone, because “he stole his ticket, ‘those that gave him the ticket should deliver him’.”
Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has described those alleging that he is sabotaging president Buhari as real enemies of the APC party. The governor, who reacted through Onwuemeodo, said he could not have been sabotaging the president, when he recently organised a rally for him in Okigwe and Owerri zone.
“Who are these elders; they should be sitting quietly in their villages, instead of making fictitious claims, everybody knows Okorocha breaths and eats Buhari, he is the only person we know for president, come Saturday.”
Sun