Araraume, others storm out of APC stakeholders’ meeting in owerri

The political tension in the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Sunday heightened as the national organising secretary of the party, Osita Izunaso; senators Ifeanyi Araraume and Benjamin Uwajiumogu stormed out midway into the meeting. The meeting, which held at Concorde Hotel in Owerri, behind closed door and amidst tumultuous atmosphere from party faithful who had accompanied their leaders, lasted for about two hours and 30 minutes. The meeting, which was presided over by the state chairman, Hillary Eke, was allegedly boycotted by Governor Rochas Okorocha who reportedly insisted that the meeting be held at the Imo Government House. According to the state publicity secretary of the party, Nwabueze Oguchienti, who addressed newsmen, the stakeholders addressed issues of internal democracy, the proposed local government election in June, and the party primary elections later in the year “The meeting reached resolutions on internal democracy, discipline, peace and unity of the party. We want to position our party ahead of party primary,” Oguchienti said. Senators Izunaso, Araraume and Uwajiumogu refused to talk to journalists but the deputy governor told newsmen that “this is the first SEC meeting of the party. We urge our members to go on intensive mobilisation drive.”