According to reports, the leadership of the Imo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has disowned the state Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, saying he is not yet a registered member of the party. In a communiqué jointly signed by the party’s interim Chairman and Secretary, Mazi Nati Iwuagwu and Chief Ahamefule Ibekwe respectively and made available to newsmen in Owerri yesterday, the party stated that under the provisions of the Electoral Act on merger of political parties, only members of the merged parties are legal and automatic members of APC for now.
According to the APC, no fresh registration of new members had taken place in the party in the state since the merger of the three political parties on August 31, 2013.
The communiqué stated that every other member outside the three merged political parties was a ‘concessional member’ and therefore, must wait for regularization by formally registering with the party at his or her respective ward in the state.
It, therefore, frowned at the alleged plot by people it tagged: ‘APGA rebels’ to hijack the party in the state with impunity and warned those involved in the act to stop the arbitrary constitution of interim officers of the party in the state at all levels.
It stated: “That the attention of the national interim executive of our great party must be drawn to the events in the party in Imo State for urgent and necessary action as we no longer accept the existence of any APC sitting governor in Imo State until he becomes a duly registered member of APC.
“That we have firmly resolved to protect our legacy right of membership of APC lawfully acquired under Section 84 (4) and (5) of the Electoral Act 2010 by every lawful means including judicial option, if the issue of defining the authentic membership of the party in Imo State is not addressed within reasonable time by the national interim executive.”