…Say all elective positions held by Ezinihitte South bloc
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, have reacted to information in some sections of the media, on the list of candidates that emerged from the recent harmonized primaries for the local government election slated for 21st of September, 2024.
Briefing Journalists on September 8th, 2024 at Ubonukam Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, leaders of APC under the aegis of Ezi East APC leadership Forum disclosed that Ezinihitte Mbaise is made up of two blocs – Ezinihitte North (Ezi East) and Ezinihitte South with each bloc having six wards.
According to the leader of the group and former LG Chairman, Chief Christian Njoku, there is a agreement that dates back to the early 90s that when a bloc occupies either of the House of Assembly or LG chairmanship slots, the other bloc will have the other.
Buttressing his point, the APC chieftain said the Imo State House of Assembly representative, Hon Henry Agbasonu is from Ezinihitte South, and therefore Ezinihitte North (Ezi East) should have the LG Chairman.
Chief Njoku stressed that all the elective and key political positions in the ruling party are held by Ezinihitte South bloc, leaving Ezinihitte North bloc with nothing. He listed that the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Chinedu, APC Owerri Zone Vice Chairman,Hon Justus Ogu, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA APC Chairman, Hon Mark Adindu and the current Sole Administrator, Hon Ambrose Nwachukwu, are all from Ezinihitte South bloc.
Continuing, the APC leaders said they believe that the leader of the party and Governor, Send Hope Uzodinma as well as the leadership of the party in the state are not aware of the said list flying within the media.
They appealed to Governor Uzodinma and APC leadership to correct the apparent marginalization of Ezinihitte Mbaise North (Ezi East) by ceding the LG chairmanship to the bloc.
The leaders urged that any one of the six qualified persons from Ezinihitte Mbaise North (Ezi East) who bought the Chairmanship forms and were duly screened, could be chosen as the LG chairmanship candidate of the APC, adding that the six aspirants had agreed to accept and work with any of them that is chosen by the party.
Chief Njoku expressed confidence that Governor Uzodinma as a leader that believes in justice will do the needful. He added that he had known the governor and worked with him from the days of NRC down to the PDP, having worked closely with former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, late Nze IMO Umunna who was the DG of Uzodinma when he ran for Senate and eventually won under the PDP.
Electoral wards in Ezinihitte Mbaise North bloc are Onicha 1, Onicha 2, Onicha 3, Onicha 4, Eziudo and Udo/Obizi wards while Ezinihitte Mbaise South wards are Oboama/Umunama, Amumara, Itu, Okpofe/Ezeagbogu, Ihitte and Ife/Akpodim/Chokoneze wards.
It will be recalled that the two blocs of Ezinihitte Mbaise -Ezinihitte North and South have two clans each. They are Ezi Anyanwu (Udo/Obizi and Eziudo wards) and Onicha clans for Ezinihitte North (Ezi East). While Ezinihitte South bloc has Ezi West (Oboama/Umunama, Ife/Akpodim/Chokoneze and Ihitte wards) and Ezi Centre (Amumara, It and Okpofe/Ezeagbogu) clans.
Other Ezinihitte Mbaise North (Ezi East) APC leaders who were at the press briefing include retired Permanent Secretary,Chief Basil Ogwunga, former SA to Governor on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs, Chief Ezechukwu Obonna among others.
