2019: Imo APC says Sen. Hope Uzodinma not expelled

OWERRI, Imo, Nigeria – The Imo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as laughable and lies claims by a sponsored by governor Rochas Okorocha that Senator Hope Uzodinma had been expelled by the party. The APC therefore said Uzodinma remained its candidate for the 2019 governorship election in Imo State and “has not been expelled from the party.”

The party also clarified that contrary to the fake news being paraded by fifth columnists to the effect that the Federal High Court 1 (Salihu .J.) had granted an oral application by Counsel acting on behalf of Daniel Nwafor in Suit No: FHC/OW/CS/1/19 between Daniel Nwafor Vs APC & 13 Ors to issue an arrest warrant against Prince M. O Nlemigbo and some members of the APC Caretaker Committee in Imo State, the order has nothing to do with the official functions of Prince M.O Nlemigbo and the Caretaker Committee.
 

“The truth of the matter is that a Bailiff of the Federal High Court Owerri had deposed to an “affidavit of non service” of Originating Processes in the said civil suit by Daniel Nwafor. The Bailiff had alleged that when he sought to effect service on members of the Caretaker Committee by “substituted means” as ordered by the Honourable Court, he was prevented from so doing by thugs he met at the entrance of No. 47 Okigwe Road Owerri. We know that there cannot be vicarious liability in criminal prosecution.

“It was as a result of the one sided allegation that Counsel for Plaintiff made the Application which the Court granted ordering the Commissioner of Police (13th Defendant) to direct the arrest of those Defendants to show cause. The matter was adjourned to 31st January, 2019 for hearing on this Preliminary dispute on service of Originating Processes”, the APC said.

These clarifications were contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Imo State Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, obtained by Journalists in Abuja. The statement therefore urged the supporters of the APC in Imo State and beyond to disregarded the news.

Onuegbu said by the action of the group, led by one Mr. Daniel Nwafor  which has been expelled from the party, “it is now crystal clear who the group is working for but  definitely not the APC as the party is committed to winning  election in Imo State” and that  the “childishness of this joke taken too far”.

The statement said, “It is indubitable that Nwafor who is presently the Plaintiff in Suit No: FHC/OW/CS/1/2019 between Daniel Nwafor Vs APC and 13 Ors is for all intents and purposes still challenging his removal from office as State Chairman of the Party” and that “conclusively, until Mr. Daniel Nwafor succeeds in Court, he cannot act or execute any function as Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State. The fact of his removal from office is concluded, settled and is  history.

“Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma apart from being the undisputed and popular Governorship Candidate of Our great Party in Imo State, is also a member of Our National Caucus, member of Board of Trustees (BoT) and member of National Executive Committee (NEC) and by our party’s constitution is above the disciplinary process of a State Party Official.

“We challenge Daniel Nwafor and his paymasters to produce proceedings of National Executive Council (NEC) or official engagements of All Progressives Congress (APC) Daniel Nwafor has attended since the dissolution of his executive in December, 2018.The case of Mr. Daniel Nwafor is a clear instance of the negative consequence of promoting domestic aides to underserved positions in our polity. It is sad that a former State Chairman who could not issue a statement condemning the illegal and immoral decamping of 22 members of Imo State House of Assembly from the party he hitherto led to an unknown party, a   purported party chairman whose entire executive unceremoniously jumped ship into the ocean of an unknown party, a purported State Chairman who could neither physically receive the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Airport nor join him at  a rally to flag off APC Campaigns for 2019 elections in Imo State, would still have the effrontery to practice the trade of domestic enemy in Imo APC.

“We have to say it for the umpteenth time that Daniel Nwafor and his maters should stop fooling themselves politically. Imo APC has been positively rebranded by the candidacy of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and Imo people are primed to elect “Hope” who truly rescued Imo from an evil tribe of marauders and its minions like Nwafor.A child of destiny like Senator Hope Uzodimma is a priceless jewel to APC and cannot be expelled.”