By CHARLES IWUOHA

Just two weeks to the main elections on September 21, the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) is under tension as candidates and other members of the party are eagerly awaiting the release of results of the party primary elections which was conducted on September 3 at various LGAs and wards in the state.

The tension became more worrisome as results allegedly said to have emanated from the just concluded exercise flooded various media platforms with lists of certain names as the winners of the primary exercise.

Though the state leadership of the party has earlier warned aspirants and other party faithful to disregard the list and wait for official release of the results which it said would be announced by the party.

News Express learnt that despite the assurance given by the party leadership, many aspirants seemed to be uncomfortable with the delay of the results of an election which they complained was conducted five days ago.

A chairmanship aspirant from one of the LGAs who doesn’t want his name to be mentioned for political reasons said that he is not happy with the way the party leadership is handling the matter.

He pointed out that while they are still waiting for the official release of the results, some of the aspirants have started jubilation based on the results flying around social media.

Speaking also, Hyginus Onumajuru, a card-carrying member of the party, said that there is the possibility of believing in the lists flying in social media, hinting that there is no reason the party leadership will give that will be acceptable for an exercise conducted almost a week ago and the results are yet to be released.

Onumajuru further hinted that for the results not to be released after five days of waiting is a clear signal that the state party leadership may not be in charge of the exercise.

“This could be a clear indication that the party leadership is not in control of the primaries, if not so what could have been the cause of the delay in releasing the results. It has already created panic among aspirants who are eagerly waiting for the official announcement and seeing some lists flying around messed up the whole thing. Debunking the story is not enough let us have the real results,” he said.

He further said that It is unjust the way the party leadership is treating people who have already spent huge sums of money and time purchasing forms and touring villages meeting with their people for the sole purpose of securing political positions under its platform.

In a similar vein, one of the local tabloids in the state in its banner headline revealed that lists of candidates for the September 21 exercise are already before ISIEC.

A list from one of the social media platforms revealed that 12 names from Ohaji/Egbema LGA have already emerged as the party’s candidates for councillor positions ahead of the polls.

Another list also purportedly revealed that over 22 names of the current sole administrators were allegedly seen in the lists. Some aspirants have already started receiving congratulatory messages from their well wishers and supporters basically from the lists flying around.

As of the time of filing this report the leadership of the party, apart from the earlier statement issued some days ago by one Julian Chijioke, media aide to the State Party Chairman, Dr. Macdonald Ebere, the party is yet to make any other official announcement on the current development.

The election is barely two weeks from now with no record of any serious political activity from the various political parties regarding that as the people of the state await the September 21 exercise.

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