JUST IN: APC NWC Suspends Imo Governorship Primary As Gov. Okorocha Kidnaps Committee Members

The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Working Committee has postponed indefinitely the Imo state governorship primary.

A statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena gave no reason for the action.

ORIENTAL TIMES findings, however, revealed that the preemptive action was informed by the conflicting results trailing the outcome of the process.

While chairman of the committee that conducted the process, Barrister Ahmed Gulak announced Senator Hope Uzodinmma as the winner of the primary, there was a counterclaim that Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law to Governor Rochas Okorocha has emerged as APC governorship primary.

Senator Uzodinma was reported to have polled 423,895 votes to defeat 8 other aspirants.

Giving his account of the results in Abuja, Barrister Gulak said he was lucky to have escaped from Owerri.

The former presidential adviser said about nine members of the twelve-member committee were not that lucky as they were allegedly kidnapped by supporters of Governor Okorocha.

He said he had to leave Owerri at about 4.00am on Tuesday for safety reasons for Port Harcourt where he took a flight to Abuja.

“At 4.00am this morning, we had to leave Owerri because around 2.00am, some of my members disappeared from the hotel where we were supposed to be together and I gathered that they went to the government house.

“Myself, Col Igbanor and Hon Bernard Miko were the only three doing this job as other disappeared and we learnt that they were at the government house. So, when we sensed that something was fishy, by 4.00am, we left Owerri after concluding the entry of the results.

“I was informed and the AIG zone 9 called to inform me that they went for investigations and discovered that the governor himself and some policemen came and rounded up some those members and took them to government house and until now, they have not been released and anything could have happened to them. The election was held, results generated and a winner emerged and the winner is Senator Hope Uzodinma.

“My secretary disappeared around 2.00am. In fact, the case of Sadiq Bello is most pathetic because he doesn’t know anywhere in Owerri. He called a while ago that he has not eaten and has no money on him. That is the price and hazard of this job.”

He dismissed the idea of a minority report since the majority of the members were held up at the government house saying “There is no minority or majority report. This is the result compiled by me as the returning officer. If anybody is not satisfied, the party has an internal mechanism to address that. There is an Appeal Panel.

“There were some incidences, especially within the metropolis. But some of us did not go out because of the tension that was on ground. Be that as it may, I believe that the governor will release those members.”

He said he will submit his report to the party leadership. “They gave me the assignment. I will submit the result to them and it is left for them to do whatever they wish with the result.”