A faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo, on Thursday, January 17, suspended the governor of the state, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, with immediate effect for what it called gross anti-party activities.
The suspension happened moments after the governor made the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the senatorial election.
Daily Trust reports that the Imo state chapter of the APC suspended the governor after a report of a disciplinary committee, set up to investigate allegations of gross anti-party activities against him. The party said its action is in line with article 21 (B) I-VI of the APC constitution (October, 2014 as amended).
The report quoted the chairman of the Imo state caretaker committee of the APC, Prince Marcellinus Nlemigbo, as saying the alleged that Okorocha sponsored a rival political party, Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu.
The allegations against Okorocha also include open denunciation of APC and its governorship candidate in the state, Senator Hope Uzodimma; and openly canvassing of votes for Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship, National and state Assembly candidates.
It was earlier reported that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state and his counterpart in Imo, Rochas Okorocha, both made the senatorial list released by Nigeria’s INEC on Thursday, January 17. However, the commission removed the names of the candidates for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara just like Rivers state suffered same fate.
With the development, it means the party will not take part in the National Assembly election in the state. The electoral umpire had barred the APC from fielding candidates following its failure to meet the deadline for the primary election in the state.
Theportcitynews earlier reported that the names of the candidates of the APC were reported missing as INEC released a list of candidates for the National Assembly election in Rivers state.
INEC released a final presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives lists of candidates with the names of Donald Duke and Professor Jerry Gana, both contending candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) disqualified.
Their vice presidential candidates were also omitted from the final list of the presidential candidates as the commission said this was done because of a pending case they have in court.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the APC had reportedly invited Governor Rochas Okorocha and six other chieftains of the ruling party in the state to appear before a disciplinary committee set up in Owerri, the state capital.
Governor Okorocha and the six other party leaders are to appear before the committee on Wednesday, January 16. Others invited included: APC candidate for Imo East senatorial district, Emma Ojinere; House of Representatives candidate for Ezinihitte Mbaise/Ahiazu Mbaise federal constituency, Rapheal Igbokwe; Ehime Mbano/IhitteUboma/Obowo federal constituency candidate, Chike Okafor; state deputy speaker, Ugonna Ozuruigbo; Eddy Iheanacho and a gubernatorial aspirant, Obinna Mbata.
