Quit APC If You So Desire, VON DG Tells Okorocha

The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, a chieftain of the party has advised Gov. Rochas Okorocha to leave the party if he his not satisfied with the conclusion of ward, local and state congresses of the All Progressives Congress.

Okechukwu made this known when Okorocha expressed his discontent with the outcome of the congresses held in Imo last month.

According to him, Imo State and The South East APC have suffered setback as a result of the actions and inactions of Okorocha.

While speaking to newsmen in Abuja at the APC national secretariat on Monday, Okechukwu said that Okorocha would not be a factor during 2019 election in Imo State as the party would win the election with or without Okorocha.

He added that the losses suffered by Okorocha at the state congresses was a ploy by the stakeholders in the state to reposition the party as his gear up for 2019 elections.

“At least there are more than 60 political parties now. Okorocha is free to join any one of his choice, though, we are not forcing him to leave.

“What we are saying is that we have taken the leadership out of his hands because he is playing God; so, what I am saying is that he is at liberty to leave APC.

“But let nobody anywhere think that the APC will lose because we have retrieved the party from him. Mr president is going to get more votes, we are going to win more parliamentary seats, more governorship seats without him,” he said.

Dr Toe Ekechi, Convener of APC Restoration Coalition in Imo, however stated they would rather prefer that Okorocha remain in the party than leave.

“Rochas Okorocha is the governor of Imo, I think there is joy in heaven when one’ s lost sheep is found.

“We will be most joyous to see our governor Rochas Owelle Okorocha come back to the fold and work with us as a family to ensure the success of APC in 2019.

“That is not taking away the fact that he has the right to make political decisions that suits him, but in terms of what we want, we wish that we work with him.

“I will not want it to degenerate to that extent, not necessarily in the interest of the party but in his own interest and I think he is a smart governor and won’t want to contemplate leaving APC,” he said.

He expressed confidence that even if the governor decided to leave the party, the coalition was prepared to sustain the APC in Imo.