Agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State on Tuesday took to the streets to protest the non-payment of their Saturday, February 25 poll stipends amounting to N7.5million.
The agents numbering more than 30 converged at the Shell Camp Primary School in Owerri before moving to the residence of the Chairman of the party in Owerri Municipal Council, Onyekachi Ibezim.
Spokesman of the agents, Chinyere Osai wondered why they were yet to be paid their stipends weeks after the polls.
Osai disclosed that they heard that the money had been embezzled and decided to come to the chairman to find out the exact situation.
The spokesperson added that what they also heard was that a top member of the campaign council who was given the money to disburse did not even inform other members of the campaign council that he was in possession of the money.
Addressing the protesting agents, the Chairman, Onyekachi Ibezim said the money had been returned to its source.
According to Ibezim, the campaign council was no longer in possession of the money.
He pleaded with the agents to exercise patience till after the Governorship/State Houses of Assembly polls holding on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
In a swift reaction, the state Publicity Secretary, Cajetan Duke insisted that no reasonable person, who served as an agent of the party would stage a protest rally to demand for payment of any kind.
According to him, there is no monetary remuneration of any kind for those who worked as agents of the party.
He stated that appointment as an agent shows the person is a major player or stakeholder who is working to protect the interest of the party and himself.
Duke maintained that there is no N7.5million anywhere for any agent or group of agents to share or to be paid to by the party.
