The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, has been cleared by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia State of taking over the party from APC leaders in Abia and annexing it to Imo State.
It has also refuted allegations that the governor of Imo State took advantage of Federal Board nominations intended for legitimate APC members in Abia.
In response to allegations made against Governor Hope Uzodinma by APC member Nze Esiaga, Benedict Godson, the APC’s interim publicity secretary in Abia, stated these denials in a news conference.
In a letter to President Bola Tinubu, Esiaga claimed that Governor Uzodinma had taken control of the APC chapter in Abia State and was also meddling in internal party matters from his Imo State seat of government.
Esiaga claims that Governor Uzodinma participated in the 2022 APC primary election and that he also allegedly had an impact on the selection of Donatus Nwankpa to succeed the late Friday Nwosu, the party’s National Welfare Secretary before to his passing.
He added that the governor had written down the names of Abia residents who would receive federal posts, claiming that the people of Abia would not tolerate a governor from another state controlling their party.
However, the APC in Abia State responded to the accusations by stating that they were untrue and that Governor Hope Uzodinma ought to be applauded for bolstering the party in the South East.
The Abia APC maintained that the party was not annexed to Imo State, as claimed by Esiaga, and warned against any attempts to tarnish the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and certain key APC leaders in Abia, both alive and dead.
Godson stated that the APC in the South East has overcome numerous initial obstacles, with the party boasting of two state governors, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ministers holding prominent positions and portfolios, a large number of elected members of the State and National Assembly, and high-ranking political appointees.
He underlined that Governor Hope Uzodinma has always backed the party, saying that the strength and support from states like Imo and Ebonyi, where the party controls the executive branch, cannot be overemphasized for places like Abia, where the APC has not yet won a governor’s seat.
Godson went on to say that given the APC’s growing influence in the Southeast, the party is expected to prevail in the upcoming Anambra State gubernatorial poll.
The Publicity Secretary praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing and implementing programs that have made his administration inclusive.
