The Action Peoples Party (APP) on Saturday inaugurated its executive committees for the Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas of Imo, declaring itself the main opposition party in the state.

The party also inaugurated its executives in the 27 wards of the two LGAs, comprising 14 wards in Ideato North and 13 in Ideato South.

In a speech at the ceremony held in Akokwa, Ideato North LGA, the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Ikenga Ugochinyere, vowed to “aggressively” challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming elections.

Mr Ugochinyere said, “Today in Imo, our party is the biggest opposition political party. APC has eight House of Representatives members, while our party has two.

“That makes APP the leading opposition party with a lot of prospects in terms of elected officials, registered membership and the way we have organised ourselves.

“It is a courageous achievement in just a few weeks of the party in the state.”

The lawmaker further said that APP was “strategically mobilising grassroots to aggressively confront the APC and seize electoral control across the state”.

He highlighted significant constituency progress despite funding gaps.

According to him, most of the projects undergoing execution in the constituency, including water boreholes, transformers, and the renovation of health centres in Osina, were nearing completion.

He said that he would soon inaugurate a month-long project to showcase the party’s “courageous achievement”.

Handing over the party flags to the new party executive members, Ugochinyere advised them to “mobilise and expand” their polling unit structures to ensure victory.

“The fate of this party is now in your hands,” he said, emphasising the need for their commitment to the goal.

He warned that his party was ready to resist any electoral process short of a free, fair and peaceful election.

The National Leader of the party, Sylvester Duruaku, also addressed the new officials, tasking them with “absolute” discipline.

“Your job is to ensure that the party wins all the seats,” Duruaku charged the executive members.

He further charged the excos and party chieftains to guard against “unnecessary rancour and disunity”.

He encouraged them to confront their challenges as one united family. 

(NAN)