The Imo State executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has refuted the reports carried on some social media platforms (The Guardian not included) reporting that the leadership of the party has been sacked, and interim committee put in place.
A statement issued yesterday (Sunday), and signed by the Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, blamed the House of Representatives member representing Ideato Federal Constituency, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, of holding an illegal meeting at his ancestral home in the state, where he handpicked some people and named them “Interim Committee,” describing such such parading themselves in that capacity as ‘impostors,’ maintaining that the party was led by Austin Nwachukwu elected legitimately last year.
The statement urged the public to ignore such report, clarifying that the party had a constitutional process of dissolving a state executive and electing a new one.
He informed that the state executive of the party elected in 2024, was intact discharging their duties creditably.
The statement read: “The attention of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to recent publications on social media that alluded to the creation of new Interim Executive of the party in the State.
“This development followed a meeting called by… Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere in his hometown, recently, wherein he unilaterally proclaimed someone as Acting State Chairman of Imo PDP. ”
The statement clarified: “As a party, our first reaction to the Akokwa madness is that it is ridiculously strange to party politics and administration that an individual will gather a few lackeys in his sitting room to declare a duly-elected and legally constituted ward, LGA and State Executive of the party nullified, going ahead to appoint an Interim Executive, let alone one who is not even a member of the party. Insanity cannot be better illustrated.
“The party, therefore, wishes to make the following clarifications for the benefit of unsuspecting members of the public who may be misled by that charade.
“On July 27, 2024, in accordance with the timetable approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, Imo PDP held its ward congress. This was followed by the LGA congress on August 10, 2024, and subsequently the State Congress on August, 31, 2024, that produced the State Working Committee (SWC) and the State Executive Committee (SEC).”
Obiako, stressed: “These congresses were open, free, fair and credible; monitored by security agencies (including the DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Officers of the party at both the Ward, LGA and State levels who emerged meritoriously from the congresses have since been discharging their duties without any opposition.
“There were no parallel congresses at any level, and up till today, these congresses stand unchallenged at any court of competent jurisdiction. Within the internal party organs, the congresses are not also up for any kind of scrutiny or dispute, having followed laid down rules and procedures enshrined in the party’s constitution for electing officers.”
The statement alleged that the convener of the idea to meeting had been expelled, noting: “The effort by Ikenga who had long been expelled from the party to impose himself or anyone on the party’s leadership is not only criminal but also madness at the highest level.”
He explained: “Ikenga, as it stands today, is not a member of the PDP. He was expelled last year for anti-party activities and acts of gross indiscipline such as his most recent drama. He cannot reverse his deserved expulsion by declaring himself leader of Imo PDP or by dressing his cheerleaders in borrowed garments.
“The Imo State chapter of PDP is undisputably led by Hon. Austin Nwachukwu as the State Chairman, and there is only one State Working Committee (SWC) of the party.
“The party cautions anyone or group imposing themselves as officers of the party in Imo State to beware of the implications of their actions in law. Imo PDP will henceforth not treat their mischief with kid gloves.
“The party reassures its teaming members and supporters and the general public that there is no dispute about the party’s leadership structure. The party led by the State Chairman, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu and the leader of the party in the State, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu is focused on delivering a robust platform for people of the State to access credible governance and no amount of distraction from paid agents and fifth columnists will derail it,” the statement clarified.
Ikenga Imo had dismissed the report of his expulsion as baseless and untrue, stressing that he remained the leader of the party in the state.
