The recent merger of four opposition political parties into the All Progressive Congress (APC) has set members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA against one another, culminating in threats to sanction Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and Senator Annie Okonkwo.
Already, the emerging leadership of the embattled APGA has disclosed that it is considering sanctions for some of its erring members, such as Okorocha and Okonkwo, who claimed to have represented APGA in APC.
The threats of sanctions were issued just about the time spokesman of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed claimed in a statement that Okorocha and Okonkwo remain founding members of the new alliance.
The duo reportedly led other members of APGA to the merger talks that resulted in the formation of APC from four existing political parties in the country
Reacting to the merger, which appeared to coincide with the verdict of an Enugu High invalidating and sacking the APGA national executive led by Chief Victor Umeh, a key stakeholder of the party in Anambra State and Chairman of Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Chief Sylvester Nwobualor said the party would challenge the APC if it is registered.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already turned down their request for registration, except they drop the name of APGA,” Nwobualor said.
“The issue of the ongoing merger is not worth discussing at all because it’s an effort that was bound to fail. All the participating political parties must surrender their former certificates after ratification of the new move by their parties through a convention. I wonder whether the participants know the details.”
Nwobualor, who is the immediate past Special Assistant to Gov Peter Obi on Parks and Markets, admitted that Gov Okorocha and Senator Okonkwo are free to associate with any group but not on the guise of representing APGA, especially when they were not so mandated.
He also expressed anger with failure of Governor Okorocha to discuss or liaise with Obi on the issue before embarking on the far-reaching decision, adding that the verdict of the Enugu High Court on Umeh vindicated his stance that Umeh’s tenure expired since 2010.
He welcomed Umeh’s readiness to appeal the decision but urged him not to bother because it would be a waste of his time.
