The Members of the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Coalition Alliance yesterday rose from their meeting held at the Senator Hope Uzodinma Campaign Organisation’s headquarters, Okigwe Road, Owerri and maintained that the party in the state must key into the decision of the National Executive Committee’s decision of direct primaries in selecting the party’s candidates for the 2019 election.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, stressed that members of the party in the state are in support of the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and, however, explained that the State chapter of the party must abide by the direct primaries for the selection of candidates for the 2019 general election.

His words: “We are for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and for the party but we are insisting that the state Chapter of the Party, must abide by the direct primaries for the selection of candidates for the 2019 general election as has been directed by the party and the National leadership of the party. By this way, every member of the party across the state would determine those who they want for the various elective positions.”

Prince Madumere also pointed out that a situation where the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had conducted what he described as mock primaries amongst his loyalists is unacceptable by members of the party in the state.

According to him, “The State governor cannot conduct what he called mock primaries to determine candidates of the party for various elective positions for 2019 amongst his loyalists in total disregard to the directives of the National leadership of the party, we will not accept this position as this will amount to imposition of candidates.”

Speaking, Senator Uzodinma stressed that the party should be a progressive vehicle which should accommodate others and that if it fails to do that they would seek for an alternative platform.

He maintained that for the party to retain the state in 2019, the state chapter of the party must follow the directives of the National Executive Committee on the issue of direct primaries as a way to determine candidates of the party for every elective position.

According to him, “Members of the coalition are the real owners of the party. Today anywhere you see Prince Madumere, you will see hope, where you see Uwajumogu or Hilary Eke you will see Hope Uzodinma. So we want everybody to know that we are with the deputy Governor. But we are insisting that the primaries in the state must be by direct primaries. The party is a progressive vehicle, which should accommodate everybody, but if we are not accommodated we will seek for an alternative platform.”

Similarly, Senator Uwajumogu pointed out that the APC does not belong to anybody whether the person is the Governor, Senator or the President.

The Party Chairman, Dr. Hilary Eke, highlighted that the primaries in the state should be by direct primaries, irrespective of the impression of Governor Okorocha.

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