How Three NDC Factions In Owerri Municipal Fought Dirty in Owerri

Attempts by some opposition elements to blame officials of the Imo State Government for the violent clash that erupted at Umuoyima in Owerri Municipal on Tuesday have been found to be false, as available facts point to an internal crisis among rival factions within the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Contrary to allegations circulated by some NDC supporters, neither the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, nor Tapee, was anywhere near the venue of the incident during the chaos.

As an eyewitness to the government’s activities that same day, I can state categorically that throughout the period the incident occurred, I was with Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, Tapee, the General Manager of the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), and the Chairman of Owerri Municipal Council at Area K, where the state government has been carrying out its ongoing clearing and reclamation exercise. It is therefore impossible for the same individuals to have been at Area K and simultaneously at Umuoyima.

Even the video circulated by NDC supporters in an attempt to support their allegation exposes the falsehood of their claims. At no point in the video is there anyone who resembles Nze Chinasa Nwaneri or any other government functionary they accused of masterminding the disruption. The video completely fails to support their allegation, making the claim nothing more than a fabrication born out of imagination.

Information gathered indicates that the violence resulted from a bitter leadership and ticket dispute involving three rival factions within the NDC over the party’s Imo East Senatorial ambition.

The factions are said to be loyal to Hon. Tony Okpe, Chief Charles Onyeagbako and Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, all of whom are reportedly laying claim to the party’s senatorial ticket following a deeply disputed primary process.

The crisis reportedly reached its peak when a meeting convened by the faction loyal to Hon. Uche Onyeagocha at Umuoyima was invaded by supporters and political loyalists of the other contending factions. The confrontation quickly degenerated into violence as chairs were smashed and rival groups engaged in a free-for-all.

Residents in the area watched in disbelief as what began as a political gathering descended into chaos, forcing security personnel to intervene to restore order and prevent further escalation.

An eyewitness, Obinna Eze, dismissed attempts to drag the APC and the state government into the incident.

According to him, “NDC had internal crisis within themselves yesterday over hierarchy in their party. They couldn’t settle it within them. They are rather accusing APC.”

The incident has once again exposed the deep cracks within the NDC, whose internal disagreements appear to have intensified ahead of the forthcoming elections.

It is also on record that Hon. Uche Onyeagocha has previously been associated with political confrontations involving groups of supporters. One of such incidents was captured in a viral video during the 2019/2020 political season when he led supporters in confronting former Governor Rochas Okorocha following his brief stint as Secretary to the State Government. That episode remains fresh in the minds of many political observers and has continued to shape public perception whenever violence is linked to political activities involving the former lawmaker.

Politics should never be reduced to violence or intimidation. Political parties and associations owe their supporters and the public the responsibility of resolving internal disagreements through lawful and democratic means rather than resorting to disorder or looking for scapegoats whenever internal conflicts spiral out of control.

Opposition elements in Imo State should return to the drawing board and put their houses in order instead of blaming the state government and its officials for crises that originate from within their own ranks. They must also desist from dragging government functionaries into their internal problems or the affairs of social and political associations that parade themselves as political parties.