As the much talked about national convention of the All Progressive Congress (APC) holds on Saturday, the two factions, one loyal to governor Hope Uzodimma and another to the former governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, indications are rife that two delegate lists will emerge in Abuja.
News Echo gathered that the two factions of the party have compiled their separate delegate list for the convention. There is palpable fear as to whose list will be accepted at the convention.
While some adduced that the list of governor Hope Uzodimma loyalists will be accepted, some pundits say, the delegate list of the Dan Nwafor led faction loyal to former governor Rochas Okorocha will be legally accepted given the ruling of the court.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had ruled that it will, on May 27, 2022, deliver a final judgment in the legal tussle on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Imo State.
However, the leadership of the State Executive Committee under Dan Nwafor and believed to be loyal to former governor Rochas Okorocha will remain in office to pilot affairs of the party until the judgment is delivered.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who led a five-man panel of Justices of the Court fixed the judgment date after taking arguments for and against the suit.
Justice Ariwoola announced that all issues raised in the appeal instituted by APC would be properly addressed and arrived at a just conclusion.
Robert Emmukpoeruo, (SAN), while adopting his final brief of arguments urged the court to allow the appeal.
He also pleaded with the Apex Court Justices to reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in favour of the Dan Nwafor leadership.
However, Chidozie Ogundi, who is counsel to Nwafor in the appeal urged the Supreme Court to affirm the leadership of his client as the authentic leader of the APC in Imo State.
Ogundi asked the Apex court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit and substance and to allow the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered in favour of the Enweren leadership Committee.
Other respondents in the appeal also asked the Apex court to dismiss the APC suit on the ground that it devoids merit and ought to be dismissed.
The legal battle for the soul of APC in Imo State started in 2018 when the party conducted ward and Local Government Congress to pick leadership for the party.
Dan Nwafor leadership however stood its ground that its four-year tenure remained valid and will expire in 2022.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo has reaffirmed Mr. MacDonald Ebere as its chairman.
It was gathered that other persons purportedly laying claims to the office, for reasons best known to them, declined to revalidate their membership of the party during the last membership registration and revalidation exercise organized by the national leadership of the party.
The state publicity secretary of the party noted that Imo APC remains united and strong under the leadership of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and Chairmanship of MacDonald Ebere.
Daniel Nwafor has said he still remains the authentic, duly elected, legally recognized and competent Chairman of the party in the state.