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Tag: Okorocha

  • 2019: APC summons Okorocha, six others before disciplinary committee

    The Imo State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has summoned Governor Rochas Okorocha and six other big wigs of the party in the state to appear before a disciplinary committee in Owerri, the state capital.

    The seven men are to appear before the committee on Wednesday.

    Others invited included: APC candidate for Imo East senatorial district, Mr. Emma Ojinere; House of Representatives candidate for Ezinihitte Mbaise/Ahiazu Mbaise Federal Constituency, Mr. Rapheal Igbokwe; Ehime Mbano/IhitteUboma/Obowo Federal Constituency candidate, Mr. Chike Okafor; state Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ugonna Ozuruigbo; Mr. Eddy Iheanacho and a gubernatorial aspirant, Mr. Obinna Mbata.

    In the invitation letter signed by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Matthew Omegara; and Secretary, Mr. Kevin Ugwu on Tuesday, in Owerri, the committee stated that the affected persons were invited for various anti-party activities.

    According to the letter, the committee will take decisions on what it described as “the ugly activities” after investigations.

    The committee will meet at the APC Secretariat/Campaign office, Owerri, between January 16 and 17, 2019 and 9am and 6pm respectively.

    The invitation letter reads in part, “The above-named are directed to appear before a disciplinary committee of the All Progressives Congress, Imo State, to answer to complaints made against them respectively on “anti-party activities, conduct likely to have adverse effects on the party and bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute and factionalisation of party membership.”


  • Buhari’s wife, Okorocha clash at Imo APC campaign over support for son-in-law

    The First Lady,Mrs Aisha Buhari on Saturday in Owerri canvassed votes for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Imo State ,Senator Hope Uzodinma to the chagrin of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    Represented by the wife of the vice president, Mrs.Oludolapo Osinbajo, the first lady was confident that the SouthEast and Imo State in particular would vote all APC candidates in the coming elections.

    “A vote for Buhari is a vote for progress. APC has done well and we must all support all APC candidates,” she said at a rally in Owerri organized by APC women and youths in the South East.

    She added:”I am happy with the crowd we saw today.Iit shows that Imo is APC and I want to urge all our youths not to fight, avoid any form of crisis because President Buhari is a peaceful man. From what we have seen today President Buhari has won the South East the same way all our APC candidates have won.”

    At the rally was Uzodinma whose candidature is strongly opposed by Okorocha.

    The governor is rooting for his son in law,Uche Nwosu,who is contesting the March governorship election on the platform of the Action Alliance (AA).

    Nwosu was originally in the APC until the party gave its governorship to Uzodinma.

    An angry Okorocha said at yesterday’s rally that nothing would stop Nwosu from succeeding him as governor.

    He said: “Let me say this madam First Lady, this time around we are not here to ask you to campaign for Buhari.What my wife has done is to tell you that Buhari is on ground.

    “Imo victory for Buhari is designed, sealed. In Imo state, we have 47 political parties and one of the perfect alliances is Action Alliance led by Uche Nwosu.

    “Nwosu is APC in spirit. APC, owes Imo people an apology because of the injustice meted to Imo people. In Imo state, Nwosu will win Imo state. It is not anti- party. We refused imposition in Imo state.”

    At some point during the rally supporters of Uzodinma and those of Okorocha/Nwosu began to tear each other’s campaign posters,and eventually clashed.

    Security personnel had a tough time bringing the situation under control.

    No fewer than 15 persons sustained injuries and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

    Speaking to reporters on the situation, Uzodinma asked the APC leadership to “ look into the matter and take appropriate action.”

  • 2019: We’ll stop Amosun, Okorocha from using Buhari’s portrait to campaign for their candidates – Oshiomhole

    2019: We’ll stop Amosun, Okorocha from using Buhari’s portrait to campaign for their candidates – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says the APC will take action against the parties using President Muhammadu Buhari’s photographs for their campaigns.

    Oshiomhole said this on ‘The Platform’, a programme on TVC on Saturday while reacting to the crisis in the party’s chapters in Ogun and Imo states.

    He said the APC would write a letter of complaint to the Independent National Electoral Commission on the matter.

    The governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, had said they would continue to support Buhari but would work against the governorship candidates of the APC in their states.

    Both governors were prevented from fielding their preferred candidates in the 2019 governorship elections in their states.

    Although Amosun has remained in the APC, his candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, is contesting on the platform of the Allied People’s Movement while Okorocha’s candidate and son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, is contesting on the platform of Action Alliance.

    Oshiomhole said, “If there is a person, including a governor, who wants to sell a distorted message, the party will stop him. That is the truth. We have also seen some situations which we are trying to draw the attention of INEC to as the regulator of political parties. You cannot have anyone putting the portrait of President Muhammadu Buhari as President and his own portrait as the governorship candidate on the platform of a political party that is not known to the people.”

    The APC chairman also expressed his disgust over the refusal of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, to step down despite defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He maintained that the APC remained the dominant party in the parliament, but not in control.

    Oshiomhole, however, said removing Saraki and Dogara was no longer the priority of the ruling party.

    Meanwhile, the newly constituted APC caretaker committee in Ogun State has said it will not take issue with Amosun.

    The APC National Working Committee had set up the caretaker committee headed by Chief Yemi Sanusi with Mr Ayobami Olubori the secretary and Mr Tunde Oladunjoye named its publicity secretary.

    The committee will report directly to the NWC led by Oshiomhole.

    The NWC had sacked the party executives in both Imo and Ogun states for alleged anti-party activities.

    Later on Friday, Amosun rejected the caretaker committee and insisted that the executive members of the party in the state would complete their four-year tenure.

    Oladunjoye in a statement, said both the electoral law and the party constitution recognised only one APC.

    According to him, the committee will breathe a new life into the party, promote peace and give its members.

    The statement said, “We are all members of the same house under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, we will renew, realign, and rebuild our party for total victory at the 2019 polls, by God’s grace”.

    Meanwhile, Okorocha has said he does not take the national chairman of the APC seriously again.

    Okorocha, who was reacting to the statements made against him by Oshiomhole during a rally in Owerri on Friday, said he would not be distracted by Oshiomhole from ensuring victory for Buhari in 2019.

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, insisted that the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, did not have the capacity to garner the kind of support that would make him win the governorship election next year.

  • 2019: Okorocha shuns Imo APC guber campaign, allegedly blocks access to stadium

    2019: Okorocha shuns Imo APC guber campaign, allegedly blocks access to stadium

    The governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) kicked off on Friday in Owerri with Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha conspicuously missing.

    But the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole led other national officers of the party to the event.

    Members of the State Executive Committee of the party were also absent at the scantily attended ceremony.

    The usual crowd that attends APC gatherings in the state was missing as only supporters of the governorship candidate, Hope Uzodinma, gathered at his Campaign Headquarters along Okigwe road where the event held.

    Oshiomhole, who has been in a running battle with the Imo governor, accused him (Okorocha) of frustrating the APC candidate, an action he described as anti-party.

    He stated by denying the APC candidate use of the stadium, the governor has shown he is working against the party.

    But the Okorocha swiftly described claim he locked the stadium as false.

    Oshiomole said the stadium was built with tax payers’ money and not Okorocha’s personal fund, recalling how Okorocha cried out in 2011 when the then governor, Ikedi Ohakim, stopped him from using the stadium for his campaign.

    Oshiomhole also accused the governor of neglecting the people of the state with his style of governance.

    He said: “Let me appreciate the members of the National Working Committee for coming to join the governorship candidate of our party, we approach with one simple message.

    “It is a message of Hope, not a message of lamentation. I want you to listen because for me campaign is not about entertainment.

    “Today, we have come to deliver the message of Hope although things have gone wrong in the past.

    “We have come to return the government of Imo state to the great people of Imo state.

    “We have come to tell you that we have respect for you people. The next governor in the person of Senator Hope Uzodimma will restore all that have been destroyed.

    “Please Imo people cool temper. Today is a day to pass a message of Hope. Today we desire to talk to the young people especially to my fellow colleagues the civil servants.

    “The days are gone for a governor who will look at people and say there is money to do other things and not to pay civil servants”.

    He went on: “I want to tell you that those governors that were given money including the governor of Imo state that did not use it for that purpose will be retrieved.

    “Buhari has adopted Hope Uzodimma as the governor of Imo state. I want you to go and tell people what I said.

    “Nigeria needs to produce political leaders that have political concentration.

    “How will you believe that an APC governor will lock the stadium against an APC, governorship candidate?

    “It is the tax payers’ money that is used to build that stadium and not his personal money”.

     

  • Governor Rochas Okorocha shows off dancing skills in new video

    In a video currently trending on social media, an elated Rochas Okorocha, Imo state governor, can be seen dancing with the children at an event. The governor can be seen in the midst of these young ones dancing enthusiastically.

     

    This is not the first time the governor will be showing off his dance skills in the public glare.

    Months back the governor can seen dancing ‘Shaku shaku’ while singing along to ‘Fada Fada’, a hit song by Phyno and Olamide.

     

     

    https://youtu.be/iVVOoMH2Ft0

  • Oshiomhole promoting rascality in APC –Okorocha

    Oshiomhole promoting rascality in APC –Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has described the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as an embarrassment to the ruling party.

    He added that Oshiomhole has been promoting rascality and delinquency in the party. Okorocha bemoaned a situation where the national chairman of the ruling party, who should be educating Nigerians on the achievements of Mr. President ahead of 2019 elections, has instead assigned himself the task of abusing elders of the country and leaders of the party, particularly governors.

    The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, who he referred to as the leader of the party, to call Oshiomhole to order. “The party’s National Chairman has, in less than six months, enthroned the culture of rascality in the party and the development is not good for the party.

    APC is not known for rascality and abuses. And the earlier he is called to order the better for the party. “Since Muhammadu Buhari became President, he has not insulted or denigrated any Nigerian, high or low, and that is the best way to go. And Oshiomhole should borrow a leaf from Mr. President.

    “One of the reasons the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost in 2015 was the abuses the handlers of the party then hurled at the APC presidential candidate then, and the President today, Muhammadu Buhari.

    Oshiomhole should be advised not to tow the same line of infamy,” he said. Okorocha, in a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, decried Oshiomhole’s criticism of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. According to him, “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the former President of the country.

    And no matter the provocation or his political activities this time, Oshiomhole should have considered his status as a former President of the country in talking about him, and should have exercised restraint in addressing him.

    “Saying that God would punish the former President is not advisable. This should not be the language of APC. “APC does not belong to Oshiomhole.

    He should, therefore, be advised to carefully choose his words when he is talking about certain categories of Nigerians. And he should also find out why he is the only one talking about APC and no other member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.”

    The governor urged Oshiomhole to apply decorum as his commentaries in recent times have become nauseating and embarrassing to the party. “To say the least, few weeks to the elections, APC and its candidates do not need Oshiomhole’s insults and abuses, but the reasons Nigerians should re-elect President Buhari and elect APC candidates”, he stressed.

    Oshiomhole had, on Wednesday, while hosting Edo State and FCT Women leaders of APC in Abuja, said that Obasanjo would receive punishment from God for supporting the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for the 2019 election.He also stated that Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha were poor students of their own history who had forgotten they lost elections before winning on the platform of APC.

    The national chairman said that the ruling party was stronger now in Ogun and Imo states despite the grievances of Okorocha and Amosun. He stated that the popularity of APC in Ogun and Imo had soared despite the alleged anti-party activities of their governors.

    “Those who think our political future is tied to them; they are poor students of their own political history. Some of these people who talk as if they are invincible, they have forgotten that they have run elections in the past and lost until they abandoned their parties and joined us. So if they return back, history will repeat itself. “In Imo State today, APC will win more votes.

    My focus is on ordinary Imo voters because on that day, the governor would have only one vote, his son-in-law would have only one vote while his Commissioner for Happiness would have only one vote. “But artisans, traders, teachers and workers whose salaries are not being paid have the same weight of vote and they are excited about the renewed possibility of a new government coming with fresh ideas free of all the encumbrances of the present system. So, in Imo I’m very confident.”

  • BREAKING: Gov. Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu dumps APC for AA

    The Son-in-law of Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu has formally announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the Action Alliance, AA.

    Nwosu said he would emerge the next Governor of the state in 2019.

    Nwosu, who lost out of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s governorship race to Senator Hope Uzodinma, announced his defection at Sam the Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.

    He made the revelation shortly after his arrival from Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said, “Injustice, impunity, and lack of respect for party’s constitution” made him dump the APC.

    Nwosu disclosed further that AA will work with the APC to have President Muhammadu Buhari re-elected.

    Nwosu, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Okorocha, added, “We are going to work with APC to deliver Imo State to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We will deliver Governor Rochas Okorocha as senator because Action Alliance has no senatorial candidate in Orlu zone.

    “I have no problem with President Muhammadu Buhari. My headache is the National Chairman of APC.

    “It is a divine project and we are ready for the election. It is an inter-party marriage between AA and APC in Imo State.

    “We will work with APC to deliver President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Rochas Okorocha, myself and all our candidates.”

  • APC crisis deepens as Okorocha, Amosun move their men to other parties

    More drama has ensued on the primary elections crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Adekunle Akinlade and Uche Nwosu, anointed governorship choices of governors of Ogun and Imo states, Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha, respectively, announced their defection from the ruling party to pursue their political ambitions elsewhere.

    In Imo, Nwosu, son-in-law of Okorocha, defected to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) while Amosun’s preferred candidate, Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives, announced his movement to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), having lost the battle to wrest the ticket from Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    Primaries in Imo and Ogun states, which were arguably the most controversial witnessed by the APC, had pitted Amosun and Okorocha against the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, who they claimed worked against their interests.

    However, the two governors, who are also holding senatorial tickets of the APC, have stated that they would remain in the party and work for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The defections of Nwosu and Akinlade, which ended weeks of speculations by party faithful over what was likely to be the outcome of the controversy in both states, has thrown up fresh hurdles for the APC, as observers wonder how the party would run coherent campaigns in the two states.

    Nwosu, who lost to Senator Hope Uzodinma, and was assured of the DPP ticket following the visit
    of its national chairman to the state, would formally declare today alongside the governor’s loyalists who lost out either in the House of Assembly of National Assembly race.

    But Obinna Mbata, APC candidate for Owerri Federal constituency and the current deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and candidate for Nkwerre/Isu/ Njaba/Nwangele, Ugonna Ozuruigbo, have refused to join Nwosu “except the governor himself joins them.”

    Also, the party’s candidate for Owerri Senatorial zone, Emma Ojineri, has decided to remain in the APC.

    As Akinlade was announcing his defection on the floor of the House of Representatives, Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Yinka Mafe, Idowu Olowofuja, Tunde Sanusi and Ganiyu Oyedeji, also announced their defection on the floor of the Ogun State House of Assembly.

    The lawmakers representing Sagamu State Constituency 1, Abeokuta South State Constituency 2, Obafemi-Owode State Constituency and Ifo State Constituency 2, respectively, announced their defection in letters submitted to the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, during a plenary.

    They attributed their defection to “irreconcilable differences” arising from the legislative primaries conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    According to them, the primaries, which was conducted by the election panel of the NWC and beamed live by national television stations, produced them as winners in their respective state constituencies.

    They said they were shocked to discover that their names had been substituted with another set of candidates and subsequently submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The lawmakers, however, stated that their decision to defect to APM, to realise their political aspirations, was taken after due consultations with their various constituencies.

    However, the defection of Akinlade was not devoid of drama. After reading notices of defection of three other members, Speaker Yakubu Dogara was about to read that of Akinlade when Femi Gbajabiamila raised point of order.

    “Mr Speaker, Akinlade cannot go. Akinlade cannot go,” he shouted.

    Regardless, Dogara continued to read the defection notice. As soon as Dogara was done, Akinlade got up, bowed to the chair, shook hands with the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor and proceeded to where the majority leader was seated. As he stretched out his hand to hand over his APC band to Gbajabiamila, the House leader rebuffed him.

    The Ogun lawmaker hung the hand band on Gbajabiamila’s microphone, bowed and returned to his seat.

    The House leader took the band, walked up to the Speaker and handed it over to him, with latter saying he had accepted the band on behalf of the APC leader.

    Subsequent effort by the House leader to protest the defection was unsuccessful as he was heckled by other lawmakers.

    Meanwhile, the reconciliatory committee the APC set up to look into the grievances in Imo State, yesterday, revealed that the decision of the party would be made known after an indoor discussion with parties concerned.

    Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, who addressed party members at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), assured that the first task of their mission, which is to ensure Governor Okorocha remained in the party had been completed, emphasising that the second phase of discussion which he said would be indoors would be favourable to APC members in the state.

    However, Governor Okorocha insisted the crisis was irreconcilable considering various steps he had taken to address the situation.

    “There shouldn’t have been crisis in the party because of the affinity of the members, we are like one big family. When we came in 2011, it was a miracle, the who is who in Imo politics were against us but we won that election. We moved from APGA to APC because of the name of President Muhammadu Buhari, which is synonymous with integrity. I am a foundation member of the APC. I suggested the name APC.

    “When we started, we were called names, we were made to look like aliens in our state, this is the only state you have elected office holders that are of the APC extraction. Those Oshiomole gave the tickets were not APC members, the worst political injustice in the history of Nigeria happened in Imo.

    “The only reason these people are here is because of Buhari, not because they have benefitted. The issue we have is with Adams Oshiomole, he stole the mandate of the people and gave it away for reasons best known to him. The people here are concerned because the name of the person on APC ticket is not the candidate of their choice. The situation at hand has gone beyond what we can manage.”

  • Imo APC crisis: We have move on, reconciliation no longer possible – Okorocha

    Imo APC crisis: We have move on, reconciliation no longer possible – Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has said the current situation in the Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made reconciliation impossible.

    He said that Imo people were short-changed in their choice of who to govern them in 2019, stressing that it is too late in the day for the party correct the wrongdoing.

    Speaking when the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led APC Reconciliation Committee visited the state on Thursday, Okorocha noted that Imo people have decided to move.

    He however said that he, on his own part, remained a loyal and committed member of the party and would contest the Imo West senatorial seat under the APC

     

  • [TRENDING VIDEO] ‘Mad man’ prophesises, says ‘Okorocha is going to prison’

    A video has surfaced online of a man believed to be mentally unstable insisting that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State must be jailed after the expiration of his second term as Imo governor.

    The ‘mad man’ whose identity remains unknown as at the time of filing this report accuses the governor of presiding over a poor and unaccountable leadership in the state.

    He also lamented over the state of some roads in Imo and alleged that the governor did nothing in eight years.

    “I am not against Rochas, now we under hold-up, Weldral road, the suncity construction company that is handling Weldra, the road has been under construction for six to seven months now, no headway, the hold-up, the erratic bottle-neck traffic gridlock that is causing in this Weldra road is something that Nigeria as a whole should be concerned about,” he said.

    “Rochas is a hypocrite, eight years in office he did nothing, now he’s trying to bring in some kind of modalities so that we’ll not send him to prison. Rochas is going to prison, he wanted to bring in Ogunba to cover up his atrocities, and will still be manipulating Ogunba against us, it cannot be, it cannot be. Solidarity continues, Rochas is going to prison, the second governor that will go to prison.”

    See video below: