…Alleges:Candidate,not APC member, ln-law to Imo APC State Chair.
An association going under the aegis of Omenwane Group has cried out over what it described as the alleged imposition of one Mr Anumodu Bartholomew Chinemere from Ndegwu as the Councillorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Ward 9 (Ohii/Amakohia-ubi/Ndegwu) in Owerri-West LGA of Imo State.
The group raised suspicion over alleged possible role of Imo APC State Chairman, Dr MacDonald Ebere in the episode.
Addressing newsmen in Owerri, recently, the group maintained that the state chairman allegedly single handedly picked Bartholomew, his brother in-law, alleging that the said Bartholomew is not a member of APC, let alone participating in any party activity at the ward or LGA levels.
They also revealed that the Imo APC state chairman’s brother in-law was allegedly never in the race for the councillorship position in Ward 9.
“He was not there the day all the aspirants in the ward declared interest either to run for the councillorship position nor did he later declare interest to run any other day.
“He is someone who does not know the ward chairman nor any leader in the ward,” the group stated.
The group’ s chairman, Mr Anosike Ejikeme Michaels revealed that there were only three councillorship aspirants angling for that position in Ward 9 including Hon Ferdinand, Hon Emma Lagos both from Amakaohia -Ubi, and Dr Ngozi Duru from Ohii and while according to the group, no aspirant came from Ndegwu where the said Bartholomew comes from before his name suddenly appeared on the scene with the slogan that “he was sent by the Imo APC chairman”.
They disclosed that trouble started as soon as Governor Uzodinma advised leaders to go back to their respective wards to harmonize and come up with a consensus candidate, adding that the APC state chairman allegedly saw it as “an opportunity to intimidate Ward 9 leaders in Owerri West LGA and imposed his brother in-law on the people with the alleged impression that no leader in Ward 9 has the balls to challenge him.”
The group further alleged that it was said that the Imo APC chairman and the said Bartholomew are married to two sisters from Oru East LGA .
They therefore called on the Governor Uzodinma, to look into the ugly development which it noted, could portray the party, her leadership and the present lmo administration in bad light.
“It is not late to correct this anomaly. How can the state chairman come all the way from Owerri Municipal to impose a candidate on an autonomous ward?,” the group lamented.
The group therefore, pleaded with the Governor to please, call MacDonald to order as well as do the right thing by ensuring that the councillorship candidate from among the aspirants that declared interest to run abinitio were nominated for the unity of the Party.
