A fresh crisis has hit the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the outcome of the party’s primaries in Owerri senatorial district of Imo State.

At a stakeholders’ meeting held at Obiangwu/Ezemba Ward 10, on Thursday, party chieftains in the area expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.

In separate speeches, they accused the local government party executive of betraying them during the July primaries.

The ward chairman, Christopher Ogu, said that frontline senatorial aspirant, Chijioke Kaduru, was sabotaged, despite his significant financial investment in the party and empowerment programmes across the area.

Mr Ogu said that Mr Kaduru funded party activities across the 11 political wards in the area with half-a-million naira each before being sidelined in preference for a candidate from Owerri North.

Also speaking, the director-general of Nkwa Chikwere Organisation, Chukwuma Anuforo, warned that the post-primary grievances had triggered mass defections to the Action Peoples Party (APP).

Mr Anuforo warned that members were joining the opposition party in large numbers, threatening the ruling party’s chances in the 2027 General Elections.

“I fear that the Ngor Okpala electorate will vote massively for Mazi Chima Amadi of the APP if the leadership of the party at the state level doesn’t intervene,” Mr Anuforo said.

The stakeholders demanded that Mr Kaduru’s political structure be integrated to lead the senatorial campaign in Ngor Okpala LGA as a condition for their support.

They further urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to call local party leaders to order to avoid APC’s failure in the area.

“Every leader should relocate to their ward and polling units to work for the party and stop giving the false impression that all is well,” Mr Anuforo said.

Responding to the complaints, the former Secretary to the Imo State Government, George Eche, aligned himself with the interest of the ward stakeholders, blaming local party leaders for failing to provide effective direction.

Mr Eche appealed for calm among the stakeholders, promising continuous engagements to resolve the internal conflict and prevent a full-blown party crisis before the 2027 polls. 

(NAN)