Nlemigbo and Co Stranded as Uzodinma Abandons Party

The Imo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC, has fallen on hard times, as governor Hope Uzodinma seems to have allegedly abandoned the party, without any financial support for the Nlemigbo led Care-taker committee leaving the party Exco in dilemma.

It was reliably gathered, that governor Uzodinma has not shown regard or interest in the party, as he has not released a kobo for the running of the party since January 14 2020, when he took over the reins of power from Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, following the Supreme Court judgement. 

Sources within the party revealed to this newspaper, that the Chairman of the the Care taker committee, Prince Marcellinus Nlemigbo, have not received any imprest, neither has any administrative staff of the party received salary in the past 10 months.

Further investigations revealed, that beyond starving the Nlemigbo led Care-taker committee of funds to effectively run the party as a political party in power, forces within government house have allegedly hijacked the functions and duties of the Chairman of the party.

 It was reliably gathered, that most sensitive and strategic responsibilities of the party, were usually executed or delegated from the government house without the knowledge of the members of the Care-taker committee.

To confirm the governor’s alleged apparent disregard for the party administrators, this newspaper learnt that since the inception of the Uzodinma’s led administration, the governor has not had a single meeting or interaction with the Care-taker committee of his party, an action a source within the party considered as governor’s insensitive to the welfare of the party.

It was also reliably learnt, that even the emergence of Mr. Frank Ibezim as the anointed candidate of the party for Okigwe senatorial bye-election, was the sole decision of governor Uzodinma as neither the Nlemigbo led Care-taker committee, were aware of the negotiations and under current discussions that led to the choice of Ibezim. And that the emergence of Frank Ibezim was a big surprise to Nlemigbo and his members. No wonder the party seems to be very indifferent to Ibezim’s lost to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who recently secured a Federal High Court Judgement as the candidate of the party.

According to one of the sources, “the non funding of the party by the state governor has put the leadership of the Care- taker committee in a financial quagmire, because they cannot even run the party effectively nor pay staff salaries. This has left the party in a motion without movement situation, as a result most of the party officials have resorted to coming to the party secretariat whenever they can afford it, giving room for negligence and ineptitude. Even the chairman of the Care- taker committee is hardly in his office for the same reason, no wonder that party has continued to be in negative publicity recently”

The source further hinted that staff at the secretariat were now executive beggars, as the only means to survive.

One of the female administrative staff at the party Secretariat, who to our Reporter on strict condition of anonymity,  claimed that there is no difference between the status of APC and smaller opposition political parties like YPP, APGA and ZLP. 

She further insisted that PDP as a party in opposition, is better administered in the state than APC. She however wondered why governor Uzodinma has abandoned the party that gave him the platform when it matters most.

However, efforts to reach the Chairman, Prince Nlemigbo and his media handlers proved abortive.

• StereoExpress