Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, is currently at loggerheads with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.
Most are opposed to Okorocha imposing his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu on the party as its gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 election.
But Okorocha will not budge; instead he has told them to ‘stop grumbling.’
The stakeholders under the aegis of the Imo APC Restoration Coalition reported Okorocha to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun over his public endorsement of his son-in-law.
However, Okorocha, in a statement signed yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, justified his action, saying endorsement is not a bad thing, but a political statement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the avalanche of endorsements of Uche Nwosu, Chief of Staff, Government House, for the 2019 governorship by local governments, groups and individuals cannot be adjudged undemocratic and never contravenes any known law or ordinance.
“Endorsement is a public statement or action showing support of something or somebody. It has been part of our democracy. And it is surprising that some people have been losing sleep over the several endorsements the young Uche Nwosu has been getting.
“The difference is that his endorsement is like a revolution, and almost all the other aspirants are feeling threatened.
“We have come up with this explanation following the meeting held at Imerienwe in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area by coordinators of one of the governorship aspirants in the state and at the instance of one of them, Chief T.O.E Ekechi.
“In their communiqué, they claimed to be operating under the aegis of Restoration Coalition, APC, and they did that to deceive the weary and indeed the general public. They should have gone ahead to also endorse their own candidate,” he said.
Okorocha described those who signed the communiqué at Imerienwe as “habitual coordinators of gubernatorial aspirants” who could not contest elections.