The national leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has confirmed Prof James Okoroma as the authentic Imo State chairman of the party.

This was made known in a statement made available to newsmen signed by the national vice chairman, Southeast of ADC, Sir Bon Unachukwu.

The leadership also disowned one Chief Emmanuel Amushie claiming to be the chairman of the party in the state.

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"The attention of the national leadership of the ADC has been drawn to reports that one Emmanuel Amushie has been parading himself as the Imo State chairman of our party.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Prof. James Okoroma remains the authentic Chairman of the Imo State chapter, whose nomination was duly ratified by our National Executive Committee (NEC) and communicated to INEC.

"The general public is hereby advised to disregard all claims to the Imo ADC chairmanship by Amushie, as such claims are false, misleading, and unconstitutional.

"We call on security agencies to remain vigilant and forestall the disruptive activities of Amushie, which are capable of breaching public peace in the state," the party said.

The ADC cautioned that any attempt to destabilise the party through fraudulent claims would be met with decisive resistance.

In his reaction, Prof Okoroma stressed that he has been vindicated by the national leadership of the party and called on party faithful to come together and build a formidable system that would accommodate all and sundry.

Prof Okoroma also dismissed allegations against him by a section of the party's youths, noting that by the declaration of the national body, he remains the authentic and duly recognised state chairman of the party.

He assured party loyalists that no amount of blackmail and propaganda would derail his mission to reposition the party.