The National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that the purported expulsion of the party’s governorship candidate in Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, is invalid.
A statement from the national publicity secretary of the party, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the Imo state working committee led by Daniel Nwafor had been dissolved after members lost confidence in its abilities to lead the party to victory.
It therefore said any action taken by Nwafor, including the expulsion of Uzodinma, was null and void.
Recall that the Nwafor-led faction of the APC in Imo had on Thursday, January 24, announced the expulsion of Uzodinma, the party’s governorship candidate, from the party.
He was accused of engaging in anti party activities including sponsoring the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Senator Osita Izunaso.
However, the APC national leadership in the statement signed by Issa-Onilu, noted that the Nwafor-led faction of the APC in Imo state had been dissolved and a caretaker committee led by Marcelinus Nlemigbo set up to over see to the affairs of the party in the state.
He maintained that Senator Hope Uzodinma remains the candidate of the APC in the state and all directives which do not come directly from the Nlemigbo-led committee must be disregarded.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party APC, has been drawn to the purported expulsion of our governorship candidate in Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, through a statement signed by the former chairman of the party in Imo state, Dan Nwafor.
“We want to state categorically that the former Imo state working committee of the APC led by Nwafor was dissolved after majority of members of our party in Imo state lost confidence in their ability to lead the party to victory in the forthcoming general elections, especially due to their involvement in several anti party activities.
“Consequently, the NWC had since set up a caretaker committee in Imo state led by Chief Marcelinus Nlemigbo to pilot the affairs of the party in Imo state.
“Therefore, Nlemigbo remains the only recognised Imo state chairman and any decision which do not emanate from this recognised Caretaker Committee as regards the affairs of the APC in Imo State is null and void.
“We call on our teeming supporters in Imo state to remain steadfast and disregard such reports as it does not have the blessings of the NWC.
“The NWC is paying keen attention to events as they unfold in Imo state and the party would always take appropriate measures to protect the interests of the party.
“Let it be stated clearly that APC would not tolerate indiscipline from any member of the party under any guise.
