The presidency and the All Progressive Congress (APC) are reportedly set to take their final pound of flesh on the outgoing Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the nemesis of his anti-party activities during the elections continue to haunt him.
Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole-led APC national working committee have been at loggerhead prior and following the governor’s suspension from the ruling party over allegation of anti-party engagement.
The Imo governor sought the APC’s wrath after supporting his anointed candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, against party’s candidate, Hope Uzodinma, consequently leading to the APC’s unforeseen defeat during the Imo guber poll.
Okorocha was eventually suspended and his woes continued at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the body withheld his certificate of return based on the claim that he was announced winner of Imo West senatorial district under duress.
The governor, however, made a U-turn when it was clear that APC would continue to leave him to his fate amid further crisis.
According to Vanguard, the embattled governor has been reportedly seeking for the attention of top members within APC and presidency, but nobody wanted to associate with him.
A source said: ”The governor had successfully convinced very senior presidency officials that his son-in-law would win Imo and return to the party after the elections.
”They believed him and denied us of the needed support and see where it has landed us, that the only state that we had in the Southeast has been lost to the PDP.
“He blackmailed everybody before the presidency that he has what it takes to deliver his son-in-law whom he said will defect to APC after winning.
“Because of that some people in the presidency started helping him and gave little or no help to Senator Uzodinma the party’s candidate. The party stood solidly with Hope (Uzodinma), but nothing came from the presidency because of Okorocha’s moves.
“But the presidency is mad at him now that after all he promised, he failed even to deliver his son-in-law and rather gave the state to PDP, and that is the only state we have in the Southeast.
“Now both party and the presidency don’t want to see him.
” Okorocha was reported to be remorseful of his action. According to his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor was not ready to blame anybody within the party for his woes.