The Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Acho Ihim, has called on the national leadership of All Progressives Congress to reschedule ward and local government congress in the state.
Ihim made the call at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, while speaking with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
He said there was no election in the state as earlier reported, adding that the lawmakers were on the same page with Governor Rochas Okorocha.
He said: The shenanigans that we saw last Saturday can never be taken for congresses and we are taking this very seriously.
“We are here to reconfirm the fact that there was no ward congress in Imo and to demand that an announcement be made for a new date for the ward and local government congresses.
“As such, we demand that a constituted statement and announcement be made about the congresses that did not hold, the new date should be announced.”
The speaker, who led 23 other legislators from the state, said it was critical to revisit the congresses before talks on state congress could commence.
Ihim said that such talk would ensure peace and unity in the state.
He, however, said the state governor had done so well, adding that there would not have been APC in the South East without him.
Ihim stressed that Imo State in particular was the fulcrum of the APC and should, therefore, not be toyed with.
He added that as long as Okorocha had the support of the grassroots, he remained “a beautiful bribe” in the state.
He, therefore, charged Abuja-based politicians from the state to return home to test their popularity and to stop criticising the governor.
The speaker added that the desire of the legislators was to ensure adherence to due process and the rule of law in the state and that things were done rightly.
On Uche Nwosu, Okorocha’s son in-law as his successor as governor, Ihim said as an individual, he had a right to choose who succeeded him in office.
He added that Okorocha’s choice was not out of place, saying Nwosu as an indigene of Imo State and citizen of Nigeria was qualified to be governor of the state.
He added that Nwosu was of age and academically fit to occupy the position.
He said: “The governor as a person has his preferences.
“I have mine too and we all do, and as such, whoever you want to endorse, you can endorse.
“For me and the governor, we have endorsed Nwosu, his son in-law, but when the primaries come, Imo people will decide if it will be another candidate.
“It doesn’t imply that at the moment, you can’t do your own.
“Endorsement is not a special thing.”
