APC Congress In Imo; Federal Lawmaker Set To Defect To PDP Over Okorocha's In- Law Ambition

OKOROCHA: Backing Brother In law For Reps Seat?

Congresses to elect ward, local Government and State officers of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State has generated an uproar in Owerri following reports that a member of the Federal House of Representatives on the APC platform from the area is set to decamp to the PDP.

Reports available to this blog indicates that the lawmaker (names withheld) was elected on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2011 but decamped to the All Progressive Congress, APC with Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2013.

The lawmaker is known to have two political identities as he is addressed as an APGA lawmaker in the green chambers of the House, but changes his political identity as an APC member when he is within the precincts of his constituency.

A source close to him revealed that he decided to operate with two political platforms in order not to be caught in the web of controversy trailing the defection of 37 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC.

37 lawmakers on the PDP platform in the Federal House of Representatives are currently involved in the biggest political battle of their lives following the order of an Abuja High Court which ruled that they should vacate their seats.

The lawmaker’s romance with Governor Okorocha, however, ran into muky waters when those he nominated to be executives at the ward and local government levels in his constituency was allegedly rejected by the party and the State Governor who is alleged to be harmonizing the list of executives for the party across the State.

The lawmaker was said to be angry with the Governor’s position as he suspects that the action is geared towards oiling the political aspiration of one Chief Ololo, who is an in- law to Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Ololo is the local Government Chairman of Owerri North Local Government Area.

He is believed to be eying the seat of the present lawmaker and may have the backing of his father – in law who is the Governor of Imo State, a situation which may have compelled the House of Rep member to opt for plan B, which is to cross carpet to the PDP.

It was observed that before the issue of ward congress came up, the lawmaker, whose office is decorated with a huge signpost that has his image and that of the Governor, located along Owerri- Orji- Okigwe road,  has removed the imposing signpost prior to the ongoing congress .

Though the APC ward congress has been rescheduled for a later date in Imo State, there are serious indications that the lawmaker has began consultations within and beyond his constituency, ostensibly to prepare his move to the PDP.