The All Progressives Congress (APC), Imo State chapter yesterday held its stakeholders meeting in which the leader of the party in the state, Governor Rochas Okorocha was conspicuously missing. While the state party chairman, Chief Hilary Eke, said it was the first State Executive Committee meeting of the party for the year, some party faithful at the meeting insist it was the first all-inclusive stakeholders meeting of the party since it came to power in 2011. Though no communiqué was issued after the meeting, the party spokesman, Chief Nwabueze Oguchienti, told journalists after the meeting that the essence of the meeting was to a large extent, to paper the cracks in the party structure, unite the party and return it as one formidable political force ahead of 2019.

Oguchienti, who did not deny the seeming polarisation of the party by political interests and ambitions, noted the whole essence of the meeting was to speak some home truths to themselves and strengthen the party in the light of current realities. On the endorsement saga in the state, he said, “There was no need to discuss that because it had no basis in the constitution of our party.

“All the endorsements are inconsequential because as far as the party and our constitution is concerned, it is until you buy our form that you become an aspirant and until you win the primary election, you cannot be seen as a candidate. So at best, the people being endorsed now are at best, intending aspirants.” Oguchienti also informed that the issue of Local Government election was discussed. (New Telegraph)